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IRENE BLACK,GDP AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, NHS EDUCATION


Q How will the dental landscape change in 2011? Over the next few years more dentists will be competing for the same pool of regular dental attenders. The result will be more choice for patients, more discontented NHS dentists and possibly more dissatisfied patients.


Q What would change/improve your professional life?


My life would be easier if NHS dentists were properly rewarded for providing quality care and a quality serv- ice. I would want direct funding for NHS practices for all governance requirements. This could enable them to employ enough staff to make ‘quality’ a realistic possibility.


Q What will give you sleepless nights? That would have to be more regulation of NHS dental services. The prospect of reducing numbers of health boards and special health boards with possible amalgamation, meaning they would become larger and even more out of control.


Q What would get you cracking the champagne open?


My son graduating and getting him off my payrole.


Q Who’s the ‘player’ to watch this year? Andy Murray – again. This will be the year. In dentistry, still the CDO.


Q What’s your New Year’s resolution? Take up a hobby and prepare to retire. Not to mention decontamination ever again. (I’ve never been very good at resolutions!)


As well as this, the community dental service has traditionally provided a service to priority groups complementing that pro- vided by the general dental practitioners’ service. The academic dentists are respon-


sible for training the new dentists and the dental hospitals see patients needing specialist care on referral. We now have many more dental care professionals (dental nurses, therapists, technicians, clinical tech- nicians) who, as important members of the dental team, can help ensure access is maintained.


Q What are you looking forward to in 2011 and beyond? Quite simply, I want to see improvements in oral health and to continue to have a dedicated work- force providing a quality service.


Scottish Dental magazine 21


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