ON-DEMAND WEBINAR

What to expect

This is a recording of a webinar that took place on 7 July 2026.

This special webinar for final year students aims to share what it's like working in the NHS and explains the recent contract changes.

The Chair of the BDA's General Dental Practice Committee, Shiv Pabary will provide an overview of the NHS system and summarise the changes that are coming into effect from this financial year.
Zoe Connelly and Sebastian Fletcher will talk about their own experiences of working in the NHS and how their careers have developed so far. They'll also share insights about what they wish they'd known when starting out to help you feel better prepared!

Andrea Ogden (Undergraduate and Career Development Lead, BDA) hosts the Q&A session that follows - an ideal opportunity to put forward questions on the areas you feel you're not so sure about.

Learning objectives

Understand the NHS system and the recent changes being made to NHS contracts
Receive insights from associates working in the NHS system to help you prepare for life after graduation
Learn how the BDA can support you.

Development outcome

Meet the speakers

Shiv Pabary MBE Chair, General Dental Practice Committee

Zoe Connelly GDP, Wakefield

Sebastian Fletcher GDP, Dorset

Andrea Ogden Undergraduate and Career Development Lead,BDA

Shiv Pabary MBE

Shiv qualified in 1985 from Newcastle Dental School. He is a GDP and has been a provider and owner of several NHS practices in the North-East. He has been the GDPC representative for Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland since 1996 and was elected Chair of GDPC in February this year, having also served as Vice-Chair. Shiv is also employed as an Associate Clinical Lecturer, a Clinical Dental Adviser, and a Postgraduate Dental Tutor within Health Education England. He obtained a Bachelor of Law degree (LLB Hons) in 1995 and was awarded an MBE in the Queens Honours List in 2009 for services to NHS dentistry locally.

Zoe Connelly

Zoe graduated from the University of Leeds in 2007 and entered General Practice. She has worked as an NHS Associate Dentist at St Michaels Dental Practice, Wakefield since 2008. Zoe is the Chair of the 2027 Annual Conference of Local Dental Committees, Treasurer of Wakefield Local Dental Committee, Secretary of the BDA's West Yorkshire Section and Chair of the BDA's General Dental Practice Committee Associates Sub-committee which represents the interests and concerns of as associates in General Dental Practice across the UK.

Sebastian Fletcher

Sebastian graduated from King’s College London in 2022 where he read Dentistry. Additionally he earned a First Class Honours degree in Imaging Sciences. Sebastian is currently working as a GDP in Corfe Mullen in Dorset and is a member of the BDA's Young Dentist Committee which champions the careers of younger dentists in terms of policy making, political lobbying, and improving the quality of working life for young dentists and their prospects for the future.

Andrea Ogden

More information

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Please contact us should you require a version of this recording with closed captions.

We have a range of resources to help practice owners and associates navigate the changes to the UDA contract in England with confidence and clarity.

Working in the NHS