A Westminster Hall debate, initiated by Steve McCabe MP raised the issue of dental decay in children and the large numbers admitted to hospital for extractions. 14 MPs took part before junior health minister, Steve Brine MP, replied saying that prototypes would be extended for another two years before a new contract was rolled out.
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A University of Portsmouth dental hygiene therapist has won the first national Student of the Year award for excelling in her studies. Madeleine Pearce, 21, graduated in 2017 and now works as a dental hygienist and therapist at the Market Place Dental Practice in Devizes, where she comes from.
Read more: Portsmouth graduate wins Student of the Year award
The Sunday Telegraph has revealed that Coca-Cola threatened to cut investment in Britain if the Chancellor pressed ahead with plans for a sugar tax. Documents seen by the paper showed that during the Chancellor’s first week in office, the soft drinks giant warned privately that amid the “uncertainty” caused by the Brexit vote, the levy risked “our ability to maintain our investment in our UK operations”.
Read more: Coca-Cola ‘threatened to cut investment’ over sugar tax
Doctors, dentists, nurses and other health workers accused of misconduct face faster disciplinary action in the biggest overhaul of professional regulation for more than a century, a move that has already prompted anger from unions. The Department of Health is carrying out a consultation on the changes, which will run until January 2018.
The NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) has been launched, to replace NHS Protect. Its mission is “to lead the fight against fraud affecting the NHS and wider health service, and protect vital resources intended for patient care”. It claims controversially that fraud by dentists amounts to over £70million.
The BDA has said enough is enough, and challenged the GDC to live within its means, and to set out when it will lower registration fee levels which remain the highest cost of any UK health regulator. In a response to a letter from GDC chair Bill Moyes, the BDA has demolished the regulator's arguments on maintaining exorbitant fees and excessive levels of financial reserves.
Read more: Enough is enough: BDA demolish case for ARF levels
An investigation into the oral health of captive orca whales has raised serious concerns about their teeth. Out of boredom and frustration, many of them turn to chewing on concrete and steel tank surfaces, causing wear and tear that leads to further problems. The research was published in Archives of Oral Biology and documented two types of teeth damage.
Many fines incorrectly imposed after dental treatment are because of mistakes over patients' addresses, says a health watchdog. The latest figures show 385,000 fines were issued in the last financial year - and dentists say tens of thousands of £100 fines have been wrongly applied. Healthwatch in Kirklees says problems with address records are a big factor.
Read more: Patient fines due to wrong addresses says Healthwatch
A new £500,000 Northern Dental Education Centre - NORDEC - based at Bradford College has been officially opening by Bradford South MP, Judith Cummins. NORDEC will provide training courses and apprenticeships for aspiring dental nurses, and in-work training for people already working in the sector.
Read more: Northern Dental Education Centre opened in Bradford