News
VT trainers raise grant concerns
A
letter sent to NHS Education for Scotland’s (NES) post- graduate dental dean, Dr David Felix, and signed by a group of West of Scotland
VT trainers, has raised serious concerns about the immediate future of the scheme. The letter was also sent via email to
fellow trainers around Scotland, asking them to forward to Dr Felix. In the email, signed by John Denham and Jimmy Barrett, they write: “As trainers we have seen a complete loss of superannuation from our VDP’s earnings and, despite an uplift in GDS fees, have not seen any alteration to our trainers grant or practice allowance. There have also been significant changes to the Det X allowances. “At the end of the day, we are all operating small businesses and, with a
NES introduces new training resources
NHS Education for Scotland (NES) will fund additional educational resources to dental training practices, including an interactive programme on oral cancer and a suite of modules on communications skills.
David Felix, postgraduate dental dean, NES, said: “NHS Education for Scotland greatly appreciates the commitment trainers make to supporting new graduates at the start of their careers. These additional learning resources will allow all members of the practice – dentists, DCPs, practice managers, reception- ists, as well as the new graduates – to undertake verifiable CPD at a time and location of their choosing. “We estimate each individual within the training practice could undertake 15 to 20 hours of CPD over a 15-month period. The intention is to give training practices appointed for the August 2014 to July 2015 training year priority access to these educational resources, which are free of charge.”
12 Scottish Dental magazine
general downturn in patient numbers, VDPs are seeing less patients and therefore grossing far less. “A number of us felt strongly enough
to send the attached letter detailing our grievances and possible solutions as we all want VT to continue to be the ‘Gold Standard’ for training in Scotland and not a watered down version.” Dr Felix responded by saying: “NHS
Education for Scotland (NES) values the commitment of trainers in delivering high-quality education and training to recent graduates. “We are aware of current issues
which may impact on trainer recruitment and are working closely with colleagues in Scottish Government to identify possible solutions. “For the sake of clarity, NES has no locus
in terms of interpretation and implementa- tion of superannuation regulations.” The Scottish Government has since announced more than £350,000 has been made available to increase the grant offered to dentists who employ a vocational trainee. The present grant of £ı3,ı64, which has been in place since 2009, will rise to a maximum of £ı5,000 for committed, experienced trainers and £ı4,000 for the remainder.
® To read the letter in full, turn to page 22 and for the full Scottish Government statement, visit
www.sdmag.co.uk
Au revoir, Fiona
Friends and colleagues gathered at a special presentation dinner recently to say “thank you and good luck” to Fiona Angus, who was made redundant from her post as senior policy officer at the British Dental Asso- cication Scotland. The occasion, at the Murrayshall
House Hotel near Perth, saw committee members representing all the BDA Scotland and related committees pay tribute to Fiona and express their grati- tude for close to ı5 years’ service to the BDA. She was presented with an array of gifts including flowers, jewellery, vouchers and a cheque. Fiona expressed her sincere thanks for
both the gifts and for the personal support she had received from BDA members and for the warmth of the tributes paid to her as she left. She had always been very proud to say she worked for the British Dental Association and counts many of her colleagues as friends. A special surprise for Fiona was the
presence of her former boss, retired BDA Scottish secretary Alastair MacLean, who had recruited Fiona to the association.
Chair of BDA Scottish Council, Graham McKirdy, thanked Fiona on behalf of all BDA members in Scotland and outlined many of Fiona’s major achievements during her tenure of office. Robert Donald, chair of Scottish Dental
Practice Committee, related a little of Fiona’s life outwith the BDA – her Perth upbringing, education and earlier working life and her many hobbies and interests. Robert echoed the feelings of all when
he expressed the hope that this was not goodbye, just “au revoir”.
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