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Welcome News


LANGUAGE CHECKS


FOR DENTISTS LANGUAGE checks are set to be introduced for European dentists


coming to the UK under new government proposals. A consultation is underway into plans to ensure clinicians from EU


countries can speak fl uent English. Currently, tests only apply to those from countries outside the EU. Laws are already in place to check the English skills of doctors coming to the UK from Europe. The changes would give the General Dental Council the power to


Welcome to your


A CAREER in dentistry remains a desirable option for many, but competition for places is fi erce and training is expensive. Statistics show that people from poorer backgrounds are less likely to enter the profession – but is it just about costs, or are other factors at play? I explore some of the reasons behind this inequality, and what can be done about it, in my article on page 4. Entering general practice for


the fi rst time can be daunting for new dentists. On page 6, dentist and VT adviser Billy Cameron highlights key risk areas, covering NHS regulations, communication skills and the importance of acting within your competence. Holding a conversation with


your dental nurse while you’re treating a patient may seem harmless enough, but on page 7 MDDUS risk adviser Alan Frame discusses how this can be an unexpected source of complaints.


Raising concerns about a


colleague is diffi cult for any dentist, but can be especially challenging for trainees. MDDUS dental adviser Claire Renton off ers advice on how to handle this diffi cult situation on page 12. Evidence-based dentistry


encourages clinicians to bring together their expertise, the best available information and the patient’s needs when dealing with clinical problems. Derek Richards off ers an overview of this process on page 10.


The specialty of oral


microbiology may be small but it’s had a big impact on the profession. Find out more about getting involved in this exciting fi eld in our career article on page 8. And a disputed extraction and poor record keeping are the focus of our case study on page 14.


• Sameera Teli Editor


carry out “proportionate language controls on European applicants” and to take fi tness to practise action where concerns are raised about the language skills of existing practitioners. The new rules would apply across the UK to dentists and dental care professionals. The consultation document states: “This will ensure that healthcare


professionals on their registers have a suffi cient knowledge of the English language to enable them to practise safely in the UK.” EU rules on equality mean all dentists – not just non-EU


practitioners – would have to show they have the “necessary knowledge of English” to practise in the UK. However, the consultation document off ers reassurance to UK


dental graduates, stating that “a registrar should be able to be satisfi ed about the English language ability of UK qualifi ed applicants with no additional procedural burden.” The consultation ends on December 15, 2014.


EDITOR: Sameera Teli BChD MFDS


ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Joanne Curran


DENTAL CONTENT EDITOR: Claire Renton BDS FDS RCPS (Gla) MML


DESIGN:


CMYK Design www.cmyk-design.co.uk


t: 0845 270 2034 e:


jcurran@mddus.com w: www.mddus.com


PRINT:


J Thomson Colourprint www.jtcp.co.uk


CORRESPONDENCE: SoundBite Editor MDDUS Mackintosh House 120 Blythswood Street Glasgow G2 4EA


VISITING DENTISTS NOW NAMED ONLINE


OVERSEAS dentists who are in the UK for temporary work or for educational roles are now displayed on the General Dental Council online register. A rule change which came


into force on November 1 means the names of temporary registrants and visiting practi- tioners from Europe Economic Area (EEA) countries must now be made public. Temporary registrants are


dentists who hold a recognised overseas diploma and who are registered for a limited period for the purpose of training, teaching


GPst is published by The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, Registered in in Scotland No 5093 at Mackintosh House, 120 Blythswood Street, Glasgow G2 4EA. The MDDUS is not an insurance company. All the benefi ts of membership of MDDUS are


SoundBite is published by The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, Registered Scotland No 5093 at Mackintosh House, 120 Blythswood Street, Glasgow G2 4EA. The MDDUS is not an insurance company. All the benefi ts of membership of MDDUS are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.


or research in approved posts. Visiting EEA dental


practitioners or dental care professionals are individuals who register with the GDC under UK and EU legislation, which allows a national of an EEA state to provide services on a temporary and occasional basis. The GDC said: “Adding these


two registrant groups will ensure that the online register is fully reflective of the GDC registrant base, enabling patients to confirm whether a dental professional is registered with the GDC.”


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