Dr Barry Cockcroft, CBE, is to join the IDH as an adviser to the Board. In an internal announcement that emerged on twitter overnight, he will offer his considerable experience as this business develops and grows.
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The British Dental Association (BDA) has underlined its intention to tackle stress and anxiety in the dental profession. Principal Executive Committee chairman, Mick Armstrong, said: “For too long stress and anxiety in the dental profession have not received the recognition they deserve. We’ve all seen the cost; with friends, colleagues and in our own working lives. Low morale is real issue that can impact on both patients and practitioners, and we are determined to draw a line.”
The role that dental teams can play in the management of young patients who might be at risk of dental neglect was explored at a conference organised by the British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (BASPCAN). Jenny Harris, who ran the symposium, said: “The safeguarding of children is a topic that concerns all health professionals. The General Dental Council has just made it a recommended subject for CPD.”
The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) will be hosting the 25th congress of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry (IAPD) in Glasgow in July. The overall theme of the three-day congress is ‘The Voice of the Child’. Chaired by Richard Welbury, Professor of Paediatric Dentistry of the University of Glasgow, the congress is set to attract many hundreds of paediatric dentists from around the world.
During the debate on the Queen’s Speech Andy Burnham MP raised the issue of the ‘omission’ of a Bill to improve regulation of healthcare professionals. Backbench Tory MP, Sir Peter Bottomley, raised the case of ‘Dr David Barnett, a good dentist in my constituency, who was reported to the dental regulators on trumped-up charges.’ The Minister replied that the Government was still ‘committed’ to making progress on the issue.
The British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT) has pledged its support for a pressure group working towards reversing the nation’s addiction to the ‘sweet stuff’. BADT president, Fiona Sandom, said: “There is a real appetite for change over the unnecessary and unhealthy amount of sugar in our diets and it is up to all health professionals to ensure we educate our patients of the full health benefits of cutting sugar out of diets.”
Read more: Dental therapists pledge support for ‘anti-sugar’ campaign
BDA president, Professor Nairn Wilson, gave an address at the graveside of Sir John Tomes, the founder the dental profession, at St Mary’s Church, Caterham, Surrey. This year marks the 200th anniversary of Sir John’s birth and his grave has recently been restored with the help of the Royal College of Surgeons.
George Freeman, the Life Sciences Minister at the Department of Health, has warned that sugary foods may have to be taxed to cover the costs of treating obesity. In a separate announcement Tesco has committed to reducing sugar across its entire drinks range. From next year, its own-brand drinks will contain 5 per cent less sugar each year for the foreseeable future.
Read more: Minister backs sugar tax: Tesco to reduce sugar in drinks
The General Dental Council (GDC) has announced that Catherine Brady has been appointed by the Privy Council to take office as a GDC member on June1, 2015. She is a GDP based in Banbury, North Oxfordshire. She has been a member of the GDC’s Fitness to Practise panel since 2007. She is the training programme director for Foundation Training in Buckinghamshire and associate clinical director for Rodericks Ltd.