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With new figures reinforcing the poor oral health statistics in England amongst children, Michael Watson calls for the Government to be held to account. The statistics on child oral health in England are dire, as I have frequently said in these blogs. The number one reason why a child aged five to nine enters hospital…
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After the latest re-elections for the BDA’s GDPC, Michael Watson looks at what it should be campaigning for this year. First of all, congratulations to Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen on his re-election to the chair of the BDA’s General Dental Practice Committee (GDPC). The picture of his executive committee, which appeared on the BDA’s website, did look a bit middle-aged,…
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The profession should stop carrying out adult courses of treatment on the NHS if the epidemic in children’s oral health is to be taken seriously, Michael Watson says. In a House of Lords debate last week, retired dentist Lord Colwyn quoted a BBC survey, which said that 48% of NHS practices in England were not…
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We need to stop playing ‘the blame game’ and get behind local and national initiatives to help promote better oral health amongst children, Michael Watson says. It was a busy few days for the profession’s spokesmen, going from studio to studio, following an announcement by the Local Government Association (LGA) about the shocking facts on…
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The letter in the Daily Telegraph might be a big hit amongst dentists, but will it hit the same chord with patients, Michael Watson questions. The profession should regret NHS dentistry being described as an ‘international disgrace’ in a letter to the Daily Telegraph last week. BDA Principal Executive Committee member and private dentist, Tony Kilcoyne, drafted the…
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Publishing a signed letter in the Daily Telegraph isn’t the best way to get results, Michael Watson argues. On the day that the Daily Telegraph published what it appears is now an annual letter from 400+ disgruntled dentists, Public Health England launched a national campaign to promote healthier snacks and reduce sugar consumption among children. The significance…
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How will technology change the way we work in the distant future, Michael Watson questions. The changing ways in which we bank, more online and telephone banking, was brought into sharp focus for customers and staff of the Royal Bank of Scotland with the news of significant branch closures. At the same time advances in technology…
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It might not be long before the Government starts recommending annual check ups for those with good oral health, Michael Watson says. Last week an investigation by The Times that showed that in 24 English local authorities, dentists can only take on private patients. The study also found that 49% of practices currently cannot take on new…
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With the latest budget leaving little available for NHS dentistry, what effect would spending cuts have on treatments, Michael Watson asks. In his budget, the chancellor, Philip Hammond announced an immediate £350m boost for this winter followed by £1.6bn more next year for the front line, above the rise already planned. The extra money announced…
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Michael Watson discusses the impact Jimmy Steele had on dentistry, after the news of his premature passing broke last week. Last week we learned, with sadness, of the premature death of Professor Jimmy Steele, aged only 55. He was the former head of Newcastle University’s Dental School and had worked there since 1989. Jimmy had worked on the…
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Are the claims of dental fraud amounting to £120.7 million by the NHS Counter Fraud Authority accurate, Michael Watson questions. This week is International Fraud Awareness Week, in case the news passed you by. This event has not escaped the attention of the newly formed NHS Counter Fraud Authority, which started work with a great…
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Michael Watson reports on the Westminster debate last week about childrens’ oral health. MPs received a wake-up call on the dire state of childrens’ oral health last week during a debate in Westminster Hall. The proposer, Steve McCabe Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, had been well briefed by the British Dental Association (BDA) as had many…
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The 2006 dental contract removes any incentive to take on new patients, Michael Watson says. The departing medical director of NHS England, Sir Bruce Keogh, has warned that hospitals are failing to tackle ‘significant safety problems’, which can cause death or disability. He blamed this on the absence of any central NHS system, which could order…
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Is the future of dentistry optimistic or all doom and gloom, Michael Watson questions after this year’s BDIA Showcase. Last week meant a trip to the NEC in Birmingham to visit the BDIA Showcase, which gave me the opportunity to meet in person those at Dentistry who I more often meet via email – thank…
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Michael Watson reminisces about how dentistry has changed in the 50 years since the BDA has moved to Wimpole Street. Having qualified in 1965, I was invited to a ‘do’ at the BDA to celebrate the 50 years since it moved to Wimpole Street and was opened by the Queen. The BDA Museum is showcasing dentistry…
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Michael Watson questions whether the recent BDA statistics about young dentists leaving the profession will have any effect. When you have been reading newspapers as long as I have, you will know that certain old favourites come up every year. Stories such as Christmas decorations going up in August, Easter eggs on sale in January,…
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The Government should allow a free market in dentistry, Michael Watson says. Last week saw the leaders of both the Labour and Conservative parties give their vision of the future direction of the British economy. In his conference speech, Jeremy Corbyn promised to take back the utilities into public ownership, introduce rent controls and pay…
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The current way of remunerating dentists means NHS dentistry isn’t reaching the population that mosts needs dental care. Imagine, if you will, a nationalised airline. The deal it is offered is that it will be paid a fixed sum for each scheduled flight, according to its length, not according to the number of passengers taking seats.…
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With pay cuts, rapidly rising goodwill valuations and huge student debts, Michael Watson compares the dental working lives of millennials and previous generations. More than twice as many UK adults think young people will have a worse, rather than a better, standard of living than their parents, according to a poll by the new Resolution Foundation…
