VIRTUAL EVENT

What to expect

The new GDS Contract in Wales is currently progressing through two parallel processes: the Government is passing the legislation and developing the operational details.

In the third instalment of the BDA Cymru webinar series, members of the Welsh General Dental Practice Committee will share their views on the new contract model and respond to questions from the audience. Representatives will include Russell Gidney (Chair), Dan Cook (Vice Chair), Katie Davis (Vice Chair), along with other committee members.

The session will take the form of a round-table discussion (via Microsoft Teams), enabling live interaction with the audience. This is a member-only event. Summary FAQs will be provided to members following the webinar.

Learning objectives

Understand the key elements of the new Welsh dental contract, including remuneration and care packages
Discuss team considerations and skills mix
Consider the practical challenges such as administrative complexity, financial uncertainty, and day-to-day operations
Talk through the anticipated contract model expected to be released by Government ahead of the regulations.

Development outcome

Meet the speakers

Russell Gidney Chair, WGDPC

Dan Cook Vice-Chair, WGDPC

Katie Davis Vice-Chair, WGDPC

Russell Gidney

Russell has been Chair of the Welsh General Dental Practice Committee since 2021, having joined in 2018, he was the lead member of the GDS contract negotiation team. Russell enjoys the challenges that the committee presents, representing the views of practices and practitioners to Government and organisations in Wales.

Russell was an Educational Supervisor for Foundation Dentistry for 10 years and worked in Cardiff University supervising on the undergraduate clinics. He has been active on the Gwent Local Dental Committee since 2015 and served as treasurer until 2021. He sat on the Agenda Committee for the national conference. Russell has owned his current practice since 2009 which he manages with his wife

Dan Cook

Dan is Vice Chair of Welsh General Dental Practice Committee for a second triennium and was a member of the GDS contract negotiation team. He was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne where he qualified as a dentist in 2003. After completing Vocational Training in the Yorkshire Dales, he worked as an associate GDP on Tyneside whilst completing his Diploma of Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties.

Dan returned to Wales for a second time in 2009 after his takeover of a practice in Newport. Alongside his wife, Hannah, he was tasked with improving its reputation and expanding services to more patients. Dan became an Educational Supervisor in Dental Foundation Training in 2011 and has since completed a postgraduate diploma in medical education. Dan’s interest in dental politics evolved with his involvement with Gwent Local Dental Committee.

Katie Davis

Katie is vice-chair of Welsh General Dental Practice Committee and has been involved with the BDA since 2022. She has been assisting with NHS contract reform negotiations and representing Welsh dentistry in UK meetings. Katie graduated from Cardiff Dental School in 2020 and works as an associate in general practice in Swansea.

She sits on Morgannwg Local Dental Committee and has a seat on the BDA Young Dentist Committee. Katie is vocal about improving pay and working conditions for dentists and the dental team. She has a particular interest in representing the views of new graduates working within general dental practice, in particular associate practitioners.

More information

This event will take place live on Microsoft Teams. Please register in advance, securing your place using the pink 'Book Now' button above. Your booking confirmation email will contain instructions on how to generate the unique access link that you will need to join us live on the night.

As an attendee you can join via browser or the Teams app.

A recording of this event will not be made available on-demand. However, a summary of FAQs will be produced and shared with members. Visit our Wales Contract Reform hub.

Past webinars you may be interested in

Event Tuesday 1 Jan 1901

Contract reform in Wales part 1 (webinar recording)

Member only access: A recording from 11 November when dentists from the negotiation team shared their insights about how the contract model measures up to expectations from the negotiations, and what the outcomes will mean for individual practices.

Event Tuesday 1 Jan 1901

Contract reform in Wales part 2 (webinar recording)

Member only access: A recording from Tuesday 9 December when the panel of dentists who made up the contract negotiation team discussed the changes to the GDS Contract in Wales and responded to members' questions.

Contract reform in Wales: What will the proposal mean for you?

The Welsh Government’s proposed model contract will have real implications for every dentist and every patient in Wales. We support reform in principle, but the current proposal risk worsening access, morale, and outcomes.

Learn more

Changes to the 2026 GDS contract in Wales