Friday 30 July 2021
16:35
Chris Morris elected to BDA Board
Chris Morris has been elected to the BDA’s Board (known as the Principal Executive Committee) in
the 2021 by-election for the vacant UK-wide seat.
Chris first qualified as a dental surgeon, and practised dentistry in the UK and overseas for ten years before training as a solicitor, becoming a partner at Hempsons, a national healthcare law firm, where he specialised in defending dentists.
He has served as legal adviser to the British Dental Journal for twenty years, and as President of the Dental Law and Ethics Forum since 2000. His term of office will run until 31 December 2023.
13:01
Advice on COVID-19: Updates to our FAQs
Designed to give you and your practice the advice you need, our
COVID FAQs are frequently updated with the latest information. Members’ most frequently asked questions currently include:
- Should I use the NHS COVID-19 app?
- Must patients wear face coverings?
- If I'm vaccinated, is full PPE essential?
- Is the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory?
- What if a staff member is told to self-isolate?
12:45
Dental careers podcast: Specialty training
Are you interested in going into specialty training?
On our podcast, Chairside: Conversations about careers in dentistry, Andrea Ogden chats with two specialty trainees and covers the questions that students and FDs so often ask, such as:
- When is the best time to do it?
- How difficult is it to apply?
- What other challenges can you take on at the same time?
They discuss academic research, starting a family and what you really need to know before taking the leap into specialty training.
Khadeeja Saeed BDS Manchester 2015: "I’ve always known about special care but I think, like with many dental students, you hear about the different specialities but until you actually work in the speciality, you don’t actually appreciate the kind of work you do."
Payal Sharma-Birch, BDS London 2008: "I get to work with my favourite patient groups, children, and I get to see the transformative effect our work can have on their confidence and their mental health, and I’m very grateful I can be part of that journey".
Listen on
Apple podcasts,
Google podcasts,
Spotify or search “Chairside” on your chosen podcast platform.
09:35
BDA Benevolent Fund: London marathon 2021
On October 3, 100,000 people will be taking part in the biggest marathon ever staged in the world, by running in London and all over the country. We're pleased to see dentists and a dental student are taking part to fundraise on behalf of the
BDA Benevolent Fund, a charity supporting dentists and dental students living in the UK who are in financial hardship.
The BDA Benevolent Fund is needed now more than ever to support struggling dentists and dental students. If you’d like to support this worthy cause, consider donating to their marathon runners:
“This is my first marathon and every penny that anybody donates will be hugely appreciated by me and the charity I am supporting.” –
Dr Helen Reddington
“I can't wait to get going with training in full flow and I look forward to all your help and support in sponsoring me for what is a fantastic cause and organisation!” -
Dr. Zayd Rawoot
“I am a dental student currently studying at King's College London... I would appreciate your help in raising some money for such an amazing charity.” -
Ronan Lee
Thursday 29 July 2021
15:24
Webinar: Infection control problems and how to avoid them
Join us on Thursday 16 September 2021, 19:30 – 20:30, for a webinar from Nikolai Stankiewicz GDP and co-author of BDJ Clinical Guide
‘Infection control in primary dental care'.
Free to members, £50 to non-members. This one-hour presentation will update those working in general dental practice on the principles of cross infection control. It will help you:
- Be aware of the 10 most common compliance problems in infection control
- Understand how these problems can be avoided in their practice
- Ensure the requirements of HTM105, the CQC and GDC are being met.
13:34
Northern Ireland: COVID recognition payments delayed
The Health and Social Care Board has indicated that there will be a delay to the receipt of the £500 COVID recognition payment for GDPs and their staff teams.
We have urged the HSCB to do everything possible to ensure payment is swiftly expedited and the dedication staff have shown during the COVID pandemic is given suitable and timely recognition. We have been informed that due to the complexities involved in calculating and processing the payments for those staff not on the HSC payroll it will take more time to establish both the number of eligible staff that meet the criteria and to establish payment methods with their employers and agencies.
Employed HSC staff should have received their payment, or be in receipt of it by the end of July 2021.
11:34
UK vaccination rates: Can dentists help?
Latest NHS figures show that vaccination rates, while encouragingly high overall, continue to vary significantly between communities in the UK.
At present, people identifying either as Black British or as Mixed White and Caribbean have some of the lowest overall rates of full vaccination. These stand at 60.8% and 66.3% for the over 50s respectively, and 32.2% and 31.7% for the over 18s. Those identifying as British Pakistani were also low, at 69.9% of over 50s and 36.9% for over 18s. These rates are particularly low in comparison to those identifying as White British, which come in at 92.9% of over 50s and 67.4% of over 18s.
In March this year, dental student and volunteer vaccinator,
Mustafa Nawaz Khan told us his story about becoming a vaccinator and what dentists can do to help tackle vaccine misinformation and help engage all communities. Reflecting on these new statistics and what dentists can do, he's said:
"I'm pleased to see high rates across many communities. But we're clearly still got a lot more to do! Your patients likely know you better than they know their doctor, so if you can please do make the time to speak about your own experience, this could make all the difference. I saw this in action recently, when working at a walk-in clinic, more than one patient mentioned that their dentist had spoken to them about vaccination during a check-up!"
09:10
Wales: NHS bonus payment statement and application deadline
The first NHS Wales bonus payments will be made in the coming weeks. If you have applied for the bonus you can expect a supporting statement to be sent to the contact email address you provided on the claim form. To help understand the statement please refer to the
quick guide for contractors/recipients to help recognise the email/attachment and provide an explanation of the different fields listed.
If you have not yet applied for your bonus there is still time to do so. Applications for the bonus payment for primary care will be accepted until 30 September 2021. As part of the application, you must submit a supporting statement. This
Welsh Health Circular guide will help you complete the form. Don’t miss out, submit your application ahead of the closing date to receive your bonus payment and remind your colleagues to do the same.
Wednesday 28 July 2021
14:12
NHS England: Year-end reconciliation letters
NHS BSA are loading year-end reconciliation letters onto Compass today, and they will be available to view no later than 9am tomorrow.
Letters for prototype contractors meanwhile will be published in Compass no later than 9am on 2 August 2021. For local contracting/commissioning arrangements, such as Community Dental Services, letters will follow shortly direct from regional teams.
Guidance on how to view the letters . If you have any contract specific queries, NHS BSA advise you to send them to your named caseworker via
nhsbsa.dentalcases@nhs.net. But for queries regarding your DCR contracts, please contact the DCR team via
nhsbsa.dentalcontractreform@nhs.net.
Our NHS advice team is ready to help members with NHS contract issues. Email
advice.enquiries@bda.org or call 020 7935 0875.
12:07
Lilian Lindsay: Celebrating a pioneer
Lillian Lindsay was the first woman to qualify as a dentist in the UK in 1895. In the last week, we’ve been celebrating her 150th birthday.
The head of our museum, Rachel Bairsto, discusses her pioneering life and reflects on how inspiring women continue to drive our profession forward today.
"There are now more female dental practitioners than male, and an even greater number of female graduates entering the profession. We know there’s still progress to be made in terms of gender equality. Indeed, that’s part of the mission of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.”
10:09
England: Looking for feedback from dental trainees
Health Education England is redesigning its dental education hub and is looking for feedback from dental trainees across all stages of training.
The
remote user testing exercise will take 15 minutes to complete.
Your input will help ensure the design and information architecture of the dental hub meets users' needs.
09:12
World Dental Congress 2021
This year’s
World Dental Congress will be the first to be held entirely online, making it easier than ever to attend.
Co-hosted by the Australian Dental Association and the FDI World Dental Federation, this event will begin on 26 September. Featuring over 100 speakers, more than 200 sessions and a virtual exhibition, it aims to bring the global dental community together to share ideas, knowledge, and experiences, as well as the latest in practice, research, and industry.
Tuesday 27 July 2021
15:12
Scotland: Increased PPE for trainee dental nurses and trainers
From August,
an allocation of free PPE will be made available to NHS practices who have taken on dental nurse trainees, NHS National Services Scotland has advised.
Eligible practices will have the extra allowance added to their allocation through Pecos, the online ordering platform. The number of dental nurses reportedly leaving the profession rose during the pandemic and adverts for recruitment are on the rise. It is hoped that this may go some way to supporting NHS practices to re-establish dental nurse training.
13:53
Cosmetic injectables under scrutiny
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing is calling on the government to address the need for regulation of cosmetic procedures and the associated injectable cosmetic agents, including appropriate insurance.
MPs have made 17 recommendations following concerns that the insufficient legal framework governing these treatments has left patients at risk and undermined the industry’s ability to develop. We’re urged dentists to be appropriately protected, as MPs call on the government to end the 'Wild West' of non-surgical beauty treatments. Len D’Cruz Head of BDA Indemnity said:
“Our policyholders are indemnified for the use and administration of facial cosmetic injectable procedures above the lower border of the mandible. This is part of all Extra and Expert members’ policy terms. This has been the case since the indemnity policy exclusively for BDA members was launched three years ago.
“The use of injectable cosmetic treatments in the peri-oral area is a useful adjunct to dental treatment when provided by a suitably trained dentist. In addition, your patients are protected by your indemnity arrangements and a process for managing complaints if anything should go wrong.”
11:48
Northern Ireland: Fees guide 2020/21
In Northern Ireland, the DDRB process has long been fraught with significant delay, evidenced by the new SDR incorporating the pay uplift for 20/21 having only just been issued. We will continue to push for unacceptable delays to be taken out of the system, and for all dentists to receive above inflation pay uplifts that reflects the vital work done by dentists across the UK.
We’re also supporting members in Northern Ireland with our
updated Fees Guide 2020-21
, which you may find a useful ready reckoner. Members should refer to the full
Statement of Dental Remuneration for the details of the relevant fees and the exact wording of the narrative.
10:17
Advice on COVID-19: Updates to our FAQs
Designed to give you and your practice the advice you need, our
COVID FAQs are frequently updated with the latest information. Members’ most frequently asked questions currently include:
- Should I use the NHS COVID-19 app?
- Should my practice use lateral flow tests?
- Must patients wear face coverings?
- If I'm vaccinated, is full PPE essential?
- Is the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory?
- What if a staff member is told to self-isolate?
Monday 26 July 2021
15:10
Dental careers podcast: Specialty training
Are you interested in going into specialty training?
On our podcast, Chairside: Conversations about careers in dentistry, Andrea Ogden chats with two specialty trainees and covers the questions that students and FDs so often ask, such as:
- When is the best time to do it?
- How difficult is it to apply?
- What other challenges can you take on at the same time?
They discuss academic research, starting a family and what you really need to know before taking the leap into specialty training.
Khadeeja Saeed BDS Manchester 2015: "I’ve always known about special care but I think, like with many dental students, you hear about the different specialities but until you actually work in the speciality, you don’t actually appreciate the kind of work you do."
Payal Sharma-Birch, BDS London 2008: "I get to work with my favourite patient groups, children, and I get to see the transformative effect our work can have on their confidence and their mental health, and I’m very grateful I can be part of that journey".
Listen on
Apple podcasts,
Google podcasts,
Spotify or search “BDA Chairside” on your chosen podcast platform.
12:52
Scotland: Opening door for students
In a recent blog, dental student Georgia Halkett looks at how the new student bursary scheme in Scotland is benefitting dental students and what other support is available to them:
“The COVID-19 pandemic had a massive impact on the lives of dental students in Scotland. Some are facing the prospect of having to repeat a year of training, many more have spent the last year worried about their financial stability and their futures.
“Thankfully, a student bursary scheme was announced by the Scottish Government in February, following campaigning by the BDA. This financial assistance extends a lifeline to students and makes an enormous difference to students’ levels of debt, mental wellbeing and career options. Here I look at what supports are available to dental students in Scotland as we navigate this new normal together.”
10:19
Dame Margaret Seward 1935-2021
We have paid tribute to our former president Dame Margaret Seward, following news of her recent death.
The first female resident dental house surgeon at the London Hospital, Dame Margaret went on to edit both the British (1979-92) and International Dental Journals (1990-2000) and became the second female president of the BDA in 1993. She was an elected member of the General Dental Council from 1976 and the first woman president (1994-99).
In 1994 Margaret was honoured with a CBE for services to dentistry, followed in 1999 by appointment as the first dental dame (DBE). In the same year Dame Margaret retired from the GDC.
In 2000 Dame Margaret was head-hunted by the Department of Health to take forward the process of modernising NHS dentistry as Chief Dental Officer for England.
In the words of our Chair, Eddie Crouch: "Words cannot express the depth and breadth of Margaret Seward’s contribution to this profession. On her ascendency to the presidency she told BDA members that a profession which has forgotten its past can have no future. We can never forget Margaret, and the future for all dentists is brightened by every glass ceiling she smashed.”
09:44
Risk assessment: Fully-vaccinated staff who are told to self-isolate
We have produced a
risk assessment form
which allows practices in England to consider whether a full vaccinated member of staff, who has been identified as a COVID-19 contact, may attend work.
There is some confusion regarding “pingdemic” – and you should be aware that in England the latest government guidance for staff working in health and social care settings states:
- If staff absence creates a significant risk to the health or safety of patients or service users, health and social care staff whose activities are critical to the ongoing provision of care - and who have been identified as a contact of a case of COVID-19 - may be able to attend work rather than self-isolate if they are fully vaccinated (more than 14 days after the second dose).
- These staff members should only attend work after having a negative PCR test and daily negative LFD antigen tests. This must only occur in exceptional circumstances and where additional safety measures can be upheld. The decision must also be subject to a practice risk assessment process which should involve “the senior clinical leadership, commissioner and local Director of Public Health”.
- This does not apply to cases where the COVID contact is a member of the staff member’s household.
- Any staff who return to work following these risk assessments must adhere to legal isolation requirements at all other times, ie. when not at (or travelling to) work.
Members should also note that the guidance gives employers the right to allow staff to return to work, but not the right to compel them to return to work.
