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Welcome News


GDC INDEMNITY DECLARATION


DENTISTS registering to pay their annual retention fee with the General Dental Council are reminded they are now required to declare they have full indemnity in place – or will have by the time they start practising. MDDUS would like to reassure members that this is not a new


requirement as dentists have always needed appropriate indemnity in order to practise dentistry. The only difference now is that practitioners must complete an indemnity declaration as part of their annual renewal process. The GDC does not require registrants to provide an indemnity


Welcome to your


SOCIAL media is used by millions of people and dentists are no exception. But as professionals, there are added risks to consider before logging on to post a comment or picture. My article on page 4 looks at issues of privacy, confidentiality and professionalism and how to help avoid getting in trouble with the General Dental Council. Starting out in dental practice can be daunting, but MDDUS’ new early practitioner adviser Laura McCormick – an experienced dentist – is on hand to help. Her article on page 6 offers practical advice on matters such as contracts, tax, and practice systems. One vital requirement for dentists is securing appropriate indemnity cover. With so many myths flying around, MDDUS dental adviser Claire Renton sets the record straight on page 10.


COVER PHOTOGRAPH: PASCAL ROSSIGNOL/REUTERS The GDC has faced criticism in


recent years over its effectiveness, but could the introduction of case examiners be a sign of positive progress? Find out more in our article on page 7. Dental student Salman


Sheikh faced many challenges during his volunteer work in the refugee camps of Calais. He talks about his experiences on page 12. Those with a keen interest in academic study might enjoy a career in oral and maxillofacial pathology. Find out more about this small but fascinating specialty on page 8. A dental student on a


boisterous night out with friends lands herself in professional difficulties in our case study on page 14.


• Sameera Teli Editor


certificate unless specifically requested for further information. However, practising without appropriate indemnity in place is contrary to guidance and can result in a fitness to practise investigation. Practitioners who are covered by their employer should check they


are indemnified prior to their declaration and not assume their employer will make arrangements for them. MDDUS members receive a proof of indemnity certificate once the


first direct debit is taken, usually around the renewal date. They can also request a PDF copy at any time by emailing our membership team on membership@mddus.com The GDC registration window is open now until midnight on


December 31, 2016. The regulator is encouraging clinicians to logon to the eGDC portal to


make their indemnity declaration, pay the annual retention fee (ARF), declare CPD hours and update personal information.


ORAL CANCER ON THE RISE


MOUTH cancer rates in the UK have risen by 68 per cent over the last 20 years, according to new analysis from Cancer Research UK. The number of cases increased from eight to 13 per 100,000 people over the last two decades. Oral cancer is more common in men, and for those under


50 the rate has risen by 67 per cent in the last 20 years – increasing from around 340 to around 640 cases each year. For men aged 50 and over, rates have increased by 59 per cent climbing from around 2,100 cases to around 4,400 cases annually. Similar rises have been seen among women, with oral


cancer rates increasing by 71 per cent in the last 20 years for women aged 50 and over, jumping from 1,100 to around 2,200 cases a year. Oral cancers include cancer of the lips, tongue, mouth (gums


EDITOR: Sameera Teli BChD MFDS


ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Joanne Curran Jim Killgore


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


DESIGN: Connect Communications www.connectmedia.cc


PRINT: Printwell www.printwell-ltd.co.uk


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


t: e: 0845 270 2034 jcurran@mddus.com w: www.mddus.com


SoundBite is published by The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, Registered in Scotland No 5093 at Mackintosh House, 120 Blythswood Street, Glasgow G2 4EA. The MDDUS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MDDUS are discretionary as set out in the Articles of Association. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in SoundBite are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland.


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


and palate), tonsils and the middle part of the throat (oropharynx). Around 90 per cent of cases are linked to lifestyle and other risk factors. Smoking is the biggest avoidable risk factor, linked to an estimated 65 per cent of cases. Other risk factors include alcohol, diets low in fruit and vegetables, and infections with the human papilloma virus (HPV). Cancer Research UK and the British Dental Association have developed an oral cancer toolkit (tinyurl.com/ nt8jsfv) to help GPs, dentists, nurses and hygienists spot the disease and refer suspected cases sooner.


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