The GDC has appointed four new clinical dental advisers and a senior dental adviser to join its fitness to practise team.
The new members will advise on the clinical aspects of a fitness to practise investigation using written reports and all of the new appointments are currently practising dentistry.
‘I am happy to announce the new appointments and welcome them all to the team,’ Jonathan Green, executive director, fitness to practise at the GDC, said.
‘The clinical dental advisers and senior clinical dental adviser, who will manage the team, will play a crucial part in helping the General Dental Council (GDC) fulfil its statutory duty to investigate dental professionals whose fitness to practise is called into question.’
Margaret Naylor, senior clinical dental adviser
Margaret is principal dentist in two NHS practices and has 16 years’ experience as a foundation dentist trainer. Margaret works within the Practice Advice and Support Scheme (PASS), helping dentists who have experienced problems, and has been a representative on the south Yorkshire PAG as well as holding positions on the local General Dental Practice Committee and the south Yorkshire and Bassetlaw LPN. Margaret is also a BDA Good Practice Assessor and an honorary clinical lecturer for the Outreach Programme at the University of Sheffield.
Richard Cox, clinical dental adviser
Richard has been a dentist since the 1980s, both as an associate and a practice owner. He is currently a NCAS clinical reviewer, a dental CPD trainer and assessor for Wessex Deanery, and has previous experience as a clinical director for a small corporate and a record card auditor for various PCTs.
Richard Lawson, clinical dental adviser
Richard has a long history in both general practice and clinical advice. Formerly a practice owner and a clinical lead for a small corporate, Richard is a specialist adviser with the CQC and a dental professional adviser for the NHS and sits on the PAG. He is a member of the National Association of Dental Advisors. He has worked with the GDC and NHS England in workplace supervision and mentoring roles with practitioners under conditions. In addition, he serves on his LDC and was heading up the local PASS scheme until recently. He is also a qualified mentor and practice appraiser.
Shamir Mehta, clinical dental adviser
Shamir jointly owns two practices in Harrow. He has acted as an expert witness for both the GDC and defence organisations and is currently a senior clinical teacher at Kings College, London (deputy programme director for the MSc in aesthetic dentistry). He has published in a wide range of dental journals and has co-edited a textbook on aesthetic dentistry. Shamir is an examiner for several institutions, a manuscript reviewer for a number of dental journals, a member of the King’s College London Research Ethics Panel and a fellow of the International College of Dentists.
Christopher Roome, clinical dental adviser
Christopher has worked in general practice for over 30 years, a practice owner for 25 years and is now an associate. He has taught on several university courses and acted as a dentolegal adviser for a defence organisation. Christopher also has a long history of involvement in foundation training and of working with various local performance groups and networks, including the local LDC, PAG and Local Performer Network.
