Friday 29 April 2022
16:17
British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2022
The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show
(BDCDS) returns on
13 - 14 May 2022 at NEC, Birmingham.
With 200+ world-class speakers, 400+ industry leading exhibitors, and 250 hours of enhanced CPD, there's something for the whole dental team.
Secure a free pass for yourself and your colleagues now.
09:21
Northern Ireland: £0.4m Revenue Grant Scheme top-up payments confirmed
Confirmation has been received that approximately £0.4m that remained unspent after the payment of the 2021/22 revenue grants will be shared among practices that submitted valid receipts/invoices in excess of their RGS allocation. The £0.4m will be distributed in proportion to the number of Health Service patients registered with those practices. Top-up payments will be made in the May payment schedules.
Thursday 28 April 2022
09:14
England: Charities plugging NHS access gap in schools
We have warned Government must pick up the pace on the reform of NHS dentistry, following an
investigation from the BBC which found that teachers have called on charities to step in to provide access to dental care for school children.
With no local practices able to provide NHS care, teachers at Trinity Academy Grammar in Calderdale had appealed to their local authority, who have arranged for the charity Dentaid to assess and treat their pupils. 1 in 10 required treatment for conditions including decayed and cracked teeth and abscesses.
“We salute these volunteers, but this isn’t the Victorian era” says BDA Chair Eddie Crouch. “A wealthy 21st century nation shouldn’t be relying on charities to provide basic healthcare to our children.
“Schools can see how crucial access to dentistry is, with children struggling to eat, sleep and study. Ministers really need to learn lessons from these teachers about the importance of oral health."
Sadly the government has attempted to deflect from these problems, citing a growth in the number of dentists on the register. Official data shows nearly 1000 dentists left the NHS last year. England has enough dentists, but a growing number are simply not seeing a future in NHS dentistry.
We are continuing to press officials to recognise the urgency here, set a date for breaking from the current failed contract, and provide the necessary resources to underpin the rebuild and reform of the service.
Wednesday 27 April 2022
16:22
Wales: Stress survey findings presented to government
Our
follow-up survey into the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of Welsh dentists has revealed a worrying number of you are facing extreme stress and burnout. 83.1% of respondents told us they have gone to work, despite not feeling mentally well enough.
We presented the results of our survey to the Welsh Dental Committee and the CDO, highlighting the difficulties you are experiencing on a day-to-day basis. We also made recommendations to improve the situation.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey, allowing us to present our findings and make a strong case to improve the working conditions of dentists in Wales. We are here for you if you are experiencing stress and there are some
helpful resources available on our website to support you.
12:19
Student webinar on wellbeing in dentistry
April is Stress Awareness Month and many dentists, including students, are affected by stress. To help you cope throughout your studies and your future career, Roz McMullan is delivering a
webinar on wellbeing in dentistry. Registration is open now, and the webinar starts at 6pm on 4 May 2022.
The webinar will focus on how to care for your wellbeing, and the mental health of those around you. The session will aim to leave you well-equipped to deal with stress in and out of the workplace in the future.
Tuesday 26 April 2022
17:07
Scotland: Urgent action needed as inequality widens
Latest figures from Public Health Scotland show the poorest in Scotland are attending at a lower rate than their more affluent counterparts, as well as at less than half the rate seen before the pandemic struck.
It underlines the case we've made for urgent reform to NHS dentistry. While the Scottish Government has put in place a temporary uplift to fees provided for care from April - to be reviewed in three months – we've stressed that a long-term approach is now essential. Inadequate fees wedded to increased laboratory bills mean treatments like extractions and denture repairs, which are particularly prevalent in more deprived areas, can end up being provided at a loss, and any reduction in provision may further widen oral health inequalities.
"It was inevitable the oral health gap between rich and poor would widen given the failure of the Scottish Government to appreciate the challenges facing this service" said Josephine Weir, Vice Chair of the Scottish Dental Practice Committee.
"Our most deprived communities have faced real limits when it comes to the recovery of services. Patients who require the extra time and effort are colliding with a failed system that was never designed with their needs in mind.
"For the sake of the patients who need us most Ministers must keep NHS dentistry a going concern. That requires a long-term commitment to real reform and fair funding."
Josephine has stressed the need for reform in her recent blog
15:38
Scotland: PPE supplies reaffirmed until March 2023
The Director of Dentistry for National Services Scotland (NSS)
has written to dental practices to reiterate that PPE will continue to be supplied at no charge until the end of March 2023, unless there is a significant change to Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) guidance.
PPE stock is at sufficient levels and there has been no discussion about limiting supplies following the recent relaxation of IPC guidance when treating patients on the non-respiratory pathway. NSS have confirmed they are well prepared for a higher PPE demand to support the increase in dental activity this change will bring. Practitioners can also exercise choice and decide whether they would prefer to continue using an FFP3 mask or a Type IIR mask when treating patients on the non-respiratory pathway.
This is a welcome and reassuring update for our members, allowing practices to plan their stock levels accordingly. We will continue to meet regularly with NSS to discuss any issues that are raised.
11:24
BDA Good Practice: Our quality assurance scheme
Do you own or work for a dental practice operating in the United Kingdom and want to learn more about BDA Good Practice?
Our
quality assurance scheme allows its members to communicate to patients an ongoing commitment to working to standards of good practice on professional and legal responsibilities. Members have access to advice and
practice resources, exclusive courses to help grow a confident team, marketing materials to promote your practice, templates to help you engage with your patient base and to obtain positive reviews and much more.
Subscribe to our mailing list, to learn more about the scheme or contact
goodpractice@bda.org and someone from the team will get in touch.
Monday 25 April 2022
10:27
Northern Ireland: New bereavement leave rights for parents
All employees in the dental team are now entitled to two weeks' paid bereavement leave (PBL) in the event of the death of a child under the age of 18, or a stillbirth (from 24 weeks of pregnancy), irrespective of their length of service.
This new right came into force on 6 April 2022, harmonising parental bereavement leave rights across the UK. Employees taking PBL are entitled to statutory parental bereavement pay (SPBP), currently paid at the lower rate of £156.66 per week or 90% of their normal weekly earnings, so long as they meet certain qualifying criteria.
SPBP will be paid in the same way as existing family-related statutory payments such as maternity, adoption and paternity pay. The Labour Relations Agency have produced a
document of FAQs to help answer your questions.
08:31
Stress Awareness Month: Counselling and emotional support
Helping to prevent stress and burnout are critical for the future of the profession and we have lots of resources available to help you do this.
Our members have
access to Health Assured, a confidential service to help you deal with personal and professional problems that are affecting your wellbeing. This service includes counselling, bereavement support, CBT online and legal information to help minimise anxiety or distress.
Members can access the helpline 24/7, 365 days a year. If you would like to
become a member, you can find all the information you need to know on our website, or by calling 020 7563 4550.
