INTER VIEW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23>
leading to huge tooth loss and the widespread provision of full dentures in its fi rst two decades. While I don’t agree, I do think
there are serious issues which need to be fi xed at organisational level which will help change the direction of the nation’s dental health. Firstly, the government should
make bold and radical changes to the way dentists receive NHS payments, moving to outcome rather than output measures. It is disappointing to see the
new prototype contract [for England] backtrack from earlier commitments for change. We need a change in attitude on paying for prevention and oral health improve- ment to see tangible results. Secondly, and controversially,
the debate on water fl uoridation needs to end. Fluoride in water has long been proven to improve people’s dental health with no side eff ects, we don’t go shouting to the hills about chlorine in the water or folate in bread when it only benefi ts a small number of people so why do we do this about fl uoride, something which benefi ts millions. Finally, and something we have
been calling for over many years, is the introduction of a sugar tax. Sugar is big news at the moment
and we must seize this opportunity to change dietary habits for the better. As a dental charity, we feel a sugar tax will not only help to pay for the treatments the NHS is having to carry out due to sugar but also get the message home to the public about the damage sugar is causing to our teeth.
Describe a typical working week. I love the variety of life at the foundation. As a charity promoting oral health we will never be able to raise funds by rattling a box in the street or accosting passers-by, so on one hand I have to run a business that raises a million pounds a year and on the other hand I must
BDHF chief executive Nigel Carter works tirelessly to highlight risk of mouth cancer
decide how to spend those funds to promote our aims. A typical week can therefore
involve meeting with some of our product accreditation clients, a key source of funding, developing new educational material for our leafl ets or the web, developing the next major campaign and always looking for ways to promote the message of good oral health via the media. T e foundation issues around
150 press releases a year. Each week I speak to a number of journalists about articles they are writing and also carry out radio interviews. T ere is never a dull moment.
Tell us about the work you do in radio and as a media spokesman. I thoroughly enjoy the media work involved with the foundation and have acted as media spokesman for
“A SUGAR TAX WILL HELP TO PAY FOR TREATMENTS ON THE NHS”
25
the BDHF for more than 30 years. With some 200 radio broadcasts a year and half a dozen TV appear- ances, this is an important way of spreading our messages of oral health to the widest audience. I have seen the attitude of
broadcasters become much more supportive of the profession over the years and a huge change from the negative ‘drilling for gold’ image many favoured in the past. I think the foundation can be proud of its part in changing these perceptions.
How do you spend your free time? I am afraid my work/life balance tends to suff er as a result of my enthusiasm for the foundation. I particularly enjoy travel
and like to take advantage of attendance at international conferences and meetings with international colleagues to see diff erent parts of the world. My voluntary role as trustee and
treasurer of the Royal Society for Public Heath also takes up much of my time. I do try and fi nd time to indulge my enthusiasm for opera, music and theatre, but certainly not as much as I would like.
SCO TTISH DENT AL
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