News
Conduct. GDC committee hears of a “serious breach of patient trust”
Shetland dental nurse is struck off
GDC RULING
A dental nurse from Shetland has been struck off by the Dental Council after failing to attend a public hearing where she was accused of stealing from her patients. The GDC’s Professional
Conduct Committee (PCC) heard that Lerwick-based Melanie Inkster overcharged patients for their treat- ment, falsely recorded lower payments as having been received and took the sum overcharged for her own use. The hearing was told that Ms
Inkster admitted her actions during her employer’s disci- plinary process, when it was recorded that she said: “It was not something I would normally do, but it started and got out of hand.” A spokesman for the
PCC said: “Ms Inkster’s actions fell far short of the
standards of the profession, and her conduct was inap- propriate and dishonest. Ms Inkster’s action was a serious breach of patient trust and disregarded basic tenets of the profession. “Her actions in stealing
from patients and the practice were dishonest, systematic and sustained conduct over a period of time. “While recognising that dishonesty does not inevitably lead to erasure from the GDC’s register, the case also involved breaches of patient trust. “Ms Inkster’s behaviour has
been deemed so unacceptable to the reputation of the profes- sion that erasure is the only appropriate and proportionate sanction.”
® To see the GDC’s full determination, visit the GDC’s website at
www.gdc-uk.org
Above: Dental Protection’s dental director Kevin Lewis, Dr Jason Leitch, Dr Gerald Hickson, Professor Trevor Burke and Helen Kaney, dento legal adviser for Dental Protection based in Edinburgh
Dr Leitch speaks at Symposium
EVENT
Dentist and newly appointed clinical director for the NHS in Scotland Jason Leitch was one of the key speakers at the 12th annual Premier Symposium in London recently.
The event, organised by Dental Protection in asso- ciation with Shülke, saw nearly 300 delegates enjoy talks from Professor Trevor Burke, Dr Lloyd Searson, Dr Jason Leitch, Dr Gerald Hickson and Professor Mark McGurk at the Shaw Theatre.
Professor Burke’s talk, entitled ‘Fools rush in…’, focused on the challenges facing practitioners when choosing dental materials and how to make an informed decision based on the evidence rather than the advertising.
He was followed onto the podium by Dr Lloyd Searson whose talk, ‘…where angels fear to tread’, neatly bookended the previous presentation. He spoke about the potential problems in implant dentistry, calling on his extensive experience as one of the leading implant surgeons in the UK. Dr Leitch took to the stage to give an entertaining and impassioned overview of the healthcare system in Scotland and his newly created role in the NHS. He spoke about mortality rates and health inequalities and outlined the work of the Healthcare Quality Strategy for Scotland and the expected launch of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme in March 2013.
Mouth cancer rises among young Scots
New figures released by the Faculty of General Dental Practi- tioners (FGDP) have found that a growing number of young people in Scotland who neither smoke nor drink are being diag- nosed with mouth cancer. While men aged 50 and over who smoke and drink
10 Scottish Dental magazine
heavily remain most at risk, the FGDP revealed that they predict around one tenth of the expected 800 people who will be diagnosed with the disease in the next year will be young people who do not drink or smoke excessively.
The figures were released
to coincide with November’s Mouth Cancer Action Month and the FGDP said it would be encouraging dentists and dental hygienists to be extra vigilant to detect early stage mouth cancer.
A spokesman said: “Dental practices are on the front line
for mouth cancer preven- tion and are being urged to emphasise Health Scotland’s messages on diet, alcohol and smoking.
“It is hoped that identifying cases early will lead to better survival rates and that research will help pinpoint the causes.”
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