dental practice July 2009
Derek Watson
www.dental-practice.org
dental practice
Managing Director
Jim’ll Fix It
T A R Morgan
Consultant Editor
Derek Watson BDS LDSRCS DGDP
Executive Editor
A
FEW are too simple and that 10 bands would What will the future look like under
months “be acceptable” screams up to the Steele-grey skies? More pilots to sign
ago, the zebra crossing and stops with the car up to in the autumn. Major publicity
Chris Ritchie
Mobile: 07801 657608
Department of bumper brushing the hairs on the campaign from the DoH trying to
email: chrisr@aemorgan.co.uk
Health in England pedestrian’s leg. He just couldn’t bring convince patients NHS dentistry is
Assistant Editor
commissioned himself to write “what maniac decided fine. Re-introduction of continuing
Derek Pearson Professor Jimmy on three bands?” care payments, lots of paperwork
email: derek@aemorgan.co.uk
Steele to carry out The Review also says that patient setting out new two-tier system where
Editorial Advisory Board a “quick and dirty” charges distort the dentist/patient patients have to earn points to get a
Chairman: Richard Welfare FDS
review of the relationship, but it doesn’t stop there. bridge, new compulsory examination
Edwin Bonner BDS MDent
NHS with a view to making short and Steele’s despair that dentists prescribe routine including treatment plans
David Croser BDS DGDP
Kenneth A Harper BDS FDSRCS
medium term recommendations for 10 per cent of the NHS’ antibiotics expanded to include risk assessment.
MGDSRCS MSc MRDRCS
change. This is because MPs in merely to fob off patients in pain is Letter from PCT asking if you have a
FFGDP(UK) particular have run out of patience with matched by his disdain for patients’ compliant IT system signed “RIP High
Nazli Imtiaz BDS
the Department of Health telling them stupidity, overblown expectations and Trust Environment 006-009 In Fond
Sharif Islam BDS
everything is fine and will be fine. love of “tangible” treatment. He Memory”. Letter asking if you have a
Antony J Preston BDS PhD FDSRCS
Nicholas Unsworth BDS DGDP
In parallel with that is the work of obviously got into this job in a big way. compliant complaint system. Single-
Tony Reed (BDTA representative)
Dr Mike Warburton (a GP) who has
The statement that the current fee bands are too
Display Advertising
been given the job of eliminating NHS
simple and that 10 bands would “be acceptable”
Lesley Ann Evans dental access stories as fast as possible
(Advertisement Manager)
screams up to the zebra crossing and stops
in the run-up to the election, which he
Tel: 01372 741411
with the car bumper brushing the hairs on the
is doing by spending the last bit of cash
Fax: 01372 744493 pedestrian’s leg...
Mobile: 07984 403455
the DoH has on “procurement”
email: lesley@aemorgan.co.uk
projects, which is code for There is a lot to please GDPs. He handed practitioners unable to get
Classified Advertising and
commissioning that is guaranteed to states openly that dentists take on the Advanced Care Contracts.
Production Department
improve access. Mike doesn’t know it financial risk of providing NHS Requirement to produce “Quality
Rob King yet, but most of his work is going to be dentistry and do their best within a bad Accounts”. Rise of the Corporates
Tel: 01372 741411
trialling Jimmy’s brainwaves. With me system which puts the pursuit of after they become self-aware on
Fax: 01372 744493
so far? Good. UDAs above quality of care. October 1, 011 (date for registration
email: rob@aemorgan.co.uk
The Steele Review was not Forcing dentists to stand as with Care Quality Commission). 015:
Contents of Dental Practice
extensively leaked, but certain themes guarantors for work which is used and four major corporate bodies provide
do not necessarily reflect
the views of the publishers,
were obvious from the beginning. abused in circumstances outside of 80 per cent of all dentistry in England.
editors or members of the
These were Jimmy’s antipathy to their control merely puts prices up and This is one scenario. Another one is
editorial advisory board. The journal poorly-executed complex dentistry means an end to “hero”dontology. where there is an election next year and
is sent free of charge to qualifying
which he says can be “a waste of Some of the proposals do not deserve faced with an indecipherable mixture
individuals. Unsolicited material
personal and public resource”. to get off the ground, such as payments of practitioner titles, job descriptions,
(manuscripts, photographs, etc) will
not be returned unless accompanied
He has suggested that crowns, for doing nothing and calling it commissioning strategies, lobby
by a stamped, self-addressed
bridges and molar endodontics should prevention – but who would have groups, payment systems, entitlements,
envelope. Articles may also appear be taken out of the mainstream NHS thought that little Jimmy would have charges, fees, clinical practices, HDS,
on the Dental Practice website.
and provided by specialists. These come up with a suggestion for a core CDS, PDS, GDS and now ADS
© A E Morgan Publications Ltd 2009 dentists will either have a specialist service? contracts and plenty of ideas ranging
No part of this publication may be
contract or work in a practice that
reproduced in any form without the does. Anything that fails within three
express permission of the publishers.
years is described as an “unnecessary
Every Which? way but right
UK annual subscription £35.75 premature failure”.
Which?, the company that charges for advice on consumer goods and
Single copy £3.60
The Conservatives contributed a
services, says it is “challenging the belief that it’s impossible to get an
(Please apply to the address below
return to registration because patients
appointment with an NHS dentist”. It has developed an online dentist
for overseas rates)
like it and it is necessary to measure
finder and is “calling on consumers who have had problems getting an
Editorial and Subscriptions
improvements in oral health.
appointment to try again”. This will be music to the ears of the Department
8A High Street, Epsom, Surrey KT19
8AD (01372 741411)
Other obvious recommendations
of Health which maintains that the problem with NHS access is all over bar
(because they are the CDO’s pet
the shouting.
Published by
A E Morgan Publications Ltd, 8A High
subjects) are an improvement in
The belief that it is impossible to get a dentist was created in a large part
Street, Epsom, Surrey KT19 8AD
information about where to obtain
by … Which? In a survey in January 005, 67 per cent of the UK population
Tel: 01372 741411. Fax: 01372 744493 NHS dentistry, increased flexibility in
surveyed said that it was more difficult to register with an NHS dentist.
commissioning, the buzzword
Four million consumers were angry (they said) that they can not get good
Reprographics by
“quality” and a framework built around
quality care when they need it, so Which? started a campaign for access to
TRS Pre-Press Ltd, 211 High Street,
Croydon, Surrey CR0 1QR
health and access. Kodak will be
NHS dentistry called “Stop the Rot”.
Tel: 020 8688 4446, Fax: 020 8681 7132
pleased about the requirement for
Fast forward to 009 and Helen McCallum, Which? director of Policy and
Email: enquiries@trs-graphics.co.uk every dentist to have a computer by the
Communications, said: “The common belief is that NHS dentists are as rare
end of 011 (other computer systems
as hens’ teeth, but it’s not nearly as difficult to find one as most people
Printed by
are available). My friend Colin will be
think.” She obviously has not read her own research, which states that three
Stephens & George Magazines,
Goat Mill Road, Dowlais, Merthyr
pleased with the fees for taking on new
million people tried unsuccessfully to find a dentist and a further 4.5 million
Tydfil CF48 3TD
patients with gob rot.
have now given up completely.
Tel: 01685 388888. Fax: 01685 352042. Interspersed in the report is a lot of
The Which? dentist finder asks for your postcode and then … gives you
Email:
criticism of the current contract. The
the number of your local Primary Care Trust with instructions to ask them
estimating@stephensandgeorge.co.uk
statement that the current fee bands
which dentists are taking on new NHS patients in your area.

DP July 09 p2-3.indd 2 24/6/09 10:52:17
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