News
Election. Glasgow Dental School graduate is appointed as the new deputy leader of the Labour party in Scotland
Labour pick Sarwar for depute role
Former dentist turned politi- cian Anas Sarwar has been elected as the new deputy leader of the Labour party in Scotland. Sarwar, who graduated from
Glasgow Dental School in 2005, was elected MP for Glasgow Central in 20ı0, taking over the seat vacated by his father Mohammad Sarwar. The 29-year-old former
Hutcheson’s Grammar pupil, comfortably won the majority of support from MSPs, MPs and MEPs within his party, as well as the backing of the rank and file members. He didn’t manage to secure the support of the trade unions, who rallied around his rival Ian Davidson, but his impressive performance at the party hustings proved decisive. Speaking after his successful election, he said: “The level of support that I received from all parts of our move- ment was very humbling, and I have taken confi- dence from the fact that the mood for change in the party was so strong. “We must
renew the Labour Party by actively listening and engaging with the people of Scotland to help reconnect with their hopes,
12 Scottish Dental magazine
“I have taken confidence from the fact that the mood for change was
so strong” Anas Sarwar
aspirations and to build a more inclusive, equal and pros- perous country. “An ambitious Scotland
within a successful United Kingdom will not just talk about change, but lead it. I am delighted that Labour Party members have agreed and I will do my very best to make sure that the new Scottish Labour Party is once again the Party of people of Scotland.” Sarwar worked as an
associate at Bidwell and Associates in Paisley until 2009 when he left to pursue his political ambitions. His wife Furheen, a fellow 2005 Glasgow graduate, is also a dentist and works at another practice in Paisley.
Denplan sold in multi-million pound deal
TAKEOVER
The country’s largest dental payment plan business has been sold in a multi-million pound deal.
Axa has sold Denplan to the Simply Health Group for £115 million on a debt free cash free basis. After a pre-disposal exceptional dividend of £30m and a capital release of £6m, Axa pocketed £151m. Simplyhealth is the UK’s largest provider of health cash plans having been formed in 2009 following the merger of HSA, BCWA, LHF, HealthSure and Totally Active. The group has 1.2 million customers providing cover for two million people. Denplan has more than 6,500 member dentists throughout the UK, treating in the region of 1.8 million Denplan registered patients. Denplan’s managing director Steve Gates said: “We are confident that we will benefit from the fact that Simplyhealth is solely focused on health, as well as being a UK-based organisation based
on mutual principles, which shares the same values and ethos as Denplan.” Des Benjamin, CEO of Simplyhealth, said: “Denplan will find a strong and natural, strategic home within Simplyhealth. Both compa- nies share a strong focus on customer service based on a fundamental belief in helping people access high quality healthcare and a culture and ethos which promotes staff engagement.”
Axa bought Denplan in 1999 as part of the Guardian Royal Exchange acquisition and the company now says that it will focus its attention on private medical insurance and associated medical services to individuals and businesses. Paul Evans, group CEO of Axa UK and Ireland, said: “The sale of Denplan allows us to focus our resources on the ongoing development of our extremely successful private healthcare business. “We anticipate Axa PPP healthcare will be significantly strengthened by the expected acquisition of Health-on-Line in Q1 2012.”
New advertising standards
for dental professionals GUIDANCE
The General Dental Council (GDC) has published new guidance to ensure that advertising placed by dental professionals is clear and does not mislead either the public or fellow profes- sionals.
The guidance covers all forms of promotion of services, across print and on the internet.
It also guides dental professionals on appro- priate use of specialist
titles. Specifically, dental care professionals (DCPs) must not imply they have specialist status by giving themselves a title with ‘specialist’ in it.
Chair of the GDC Kevin O’Brien said: “The duty of all dental professionals is to put their patients’ interests first. This new guidance will help to ensure that patients’ basic right to clear, accurate information is protected and that dental professionals have helpful guidance to assist them.”
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