...to be Jolly, fah-la-la-la-la,la-lah-lah-lahhh
It is the season of Goodwill to all Men [and Women of course]. Too much food, a touch too much liquid spirit, and comfy armchair beckon for many, while Granny sups the sherry.
It is a time of year to reconnect with family, and let loose the strings of attachment with dentistry.
It has been quite a year. If anyone has recently been affected by the extreme weather and flooding, you will have our deepest sympathy and best wishes.
TWTYTW
We have a new CDO[NHS England] who seems to have big dreams. While her grip on reality is yet to be proven, her grip on mission creep is patently in doubt too as the New NHS Contract slides back another year. When does evidence seeking become procrastination I wonder?
Let’s not forget to toast the former CDO [NHS England] spinning the revolving door of Corporate employment. A nice little earner, some might cynically say; I could not possibly comment. For sure, the numbers-merchants all seem in agreement. Corporate Dentistry is a House of Cards just waiting for the crutches to be kicked away.
What about our soon-to-be ex-Chief Executive Officer of that great body in Wimpole Street. I wonder how many cards of goodwill she really will receive? Goodwill to Dental Colleagues has been the byword on her watch… NOT!
And then of course our congratulations to the newly elected members of the BDAs Principal Executive Committee. Is it me or is a vote of 1900 on a membership of 18000 a 10% turnout? Is a 10% turnout the sign of a well engaged campaign and a profession with fire in their belly? Hmmm, thought as much.
So there is much to be done and as ever so little time to do it.
Crystal balls, anyone?
Maybe 2016 will be the year that as a profession of 100,000 like-minded souls we unite into one influential body, instead of Nurses here, Therapists there, Dental Technicians under the table, Dentists arguing and never agreeing, LDCs bangin’ on to no avail, the BDA in constant denial and the FGDP worrying about ‘stuff’. No wonder the Government can run rings around us all.
To you all, I bid you a Happy Christmas and an Utterly-Butterly Joyful New Year.
In the South, we Sassenachs favour the early celebration. North of the border of course, our Scots colleagues will be awaiting the excesses of Hogmanay. To our non-Christian colleagues, we know you will join us in celebration in whatever way suits.
But wait:
What is this with Santa’s paw prints all over it? A PSA Report I see? Now this is a Festive card of gargantuan size.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Dental Profession, now you know why the Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of the GDC has pulled the Ejection Seat firing handle and is departing.
This is a 270 Page report on the investigation into the General Dental Council’s handling of a whistleblower’s disclosure about the Investigating Committee dated 21 December 2015, but from events through the previous 3 years.
My goodness me. I take it all back. The PSA do have teeth, they are most certainly sharp and their Regulatory jaws have closed around the neck of the GDC.
Close typed pages of absolute dynamite. Evidence based critical analysis of what the GDC did with your ARF that led to it having to be increased...A pantomime with an unbelievable plot by any other description.
Please do go read it Ladies and Gentlemen. 2016 may indeed be “The Year”
I also urge you to read it in the context of Dr Alyson Lockyer's brave attempt to drive this agenda in 2011 with the PSA in their report entitled An investigation into concerns raised by the former Chair of the General Dental Council Advice to the Department of Health February 2013
Many would say she was right all along. How sad it has taken this long to prove it
Broadsword calling Billy Boy … Broadsword calling Billy Boy
Dr Moyes? Are you reading this… You know what you should do. Prove to us that you are the honourable and ethical Gentleman we believe you to be.
As should the whole Council, given the implications of poor oversight.
Pull up the table, You get the mulled wine, I’ll get the nibbles. Just feast on these nuggets of you will.
- 6. Overall conclusions
- What was the outcome of the failings in the Investigating Committee processes and support during 2013?
- 6.1 The outcome was that the independence (and perceptions about the independence) of the GDC’s Investigating Committee were jeopardised by various practices that were designed to improve the quality and consistency of the Investigating Committee’s decision making, but which at the same time sought to restrict the Committee’s autonomy to an extent that infringed upon the appropriate separation of powers within a regulator. This could have had very serious implications for the GDC in terms of the robustness of decision making, potential judicial review actions and the consequent reputational damage. Those practices also had serious implications for the culture that developed in the Investigating Committee Secretariat, which in turn affected the working relationships between some Investigating Committee members and the Secretariat team.
- 6.2 “ Changes had been made to the reasoning of Investigating Committee decision documents after the event and without appropriate authorisation … “
- 6.14 …”The Chief Executive is ultimately accountable for the decisions taken about the level of information disclosed to the GDC’s committees and the Council, staff and GDC associates. The Chief Executive also had several opportunities to identify the seriousness of the problems emerging, even if they were not properly brought to their attention.”
And finally
Sub note 257, with my highlighting of the PSA final words in the Report. Hah! Pass that English Sparkling Wine, dear - the one that knocks spots off Champagne ...
Here's to 2016 dear colleagues.
- “257 We note that the Chief Executive has responded to our conclusion by stating that they believe that they acted appropriately and quickly in response to each risk as soon as it became apparent, and that they reported fairly and fully to the Audit/Audit and Risk Committee and the Council. The Chief Executive has stated to us that their view is that they have responded to each of the “shocks” that have occurred to the GDC with honesty and transparency and by taking appropriate action. In response to seeing a draft of this report the GDC has said that the Chief Executive’s reliance upon the former Director of Regulation was reasonable, has noted that the Authority’s 2012/13 performance review of the GDC did not identify problems relating to the Investigating Committee, and has referred to the fact that no complaints had been made by the Investigating Committee members, and has drawn the conclusion that the Chief Executive could not have had visibility of the problems emerging in these circumstances.
- We [The PSA] do not agree”
Try this by the way
http://www.englishorganicwine.co.uk/products/pinot-noir-chardonnay-2013-organic
Happy Christmas to one and all, and especially all our colleagues trying to level the GDC Playing Field.