British Dental Association Missing From Key Dental Talks

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 28 Apr 2007 - 12:00 PDT

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On 26th April 2007, eleven of the twelve associations which represent the providers of primary dental care met in the Grand Committee Room at Westminster to debate dental policy, under the chairmanship of Dr Andrew Murrison MP, shadow Minister of Health. The single and significant exception was the British Dental Association which pulled out of the meeting at the last minute for reasons which are not yet clear.

The debate was wide-ranging and included prevention, how to convert need into demand and grant-in-aid among many other subjects.

CEO of the DPA, Derek Watson said "I am pleased to say that we have struck a very significant blow in the battle to show the BDA in its true colours - as a paternalistic organisation that is motivated entirely by self-interest.

"The BDA, by its absence, was seen as isolated and out-of-touch. The associations present collectively have broad experience of dentistry and hopefully the Dental Stakeholders' Group will continue to develop as an inclusive and meritocratic forum for the development of dental policy, outside of the BDA/DoH alliance.

"What the dental profession needs now is leadership. Dentists look at what the British Medical Association has achieved for its members. In contrast the rise of the British Dental Association (which now has a multi-million pound turnover) has coincided with the decline of dentistry in the UK.

We must work within the system we are given. For the first time we may be able to influence the system in which we work."

Derek Watson also called for the resignation of the members of the Department of Health's Contract Implementation Review Group. He said "It is run in an autocratic manner with the sole intention of forestalling criticism of the government's plans. Members of the IRG should follow the lead of the patient's representative and resign". This description of the Group was immediately confirmed by two members of the IRG.

An electronic transcript of the meeting will be available within the next few days and a pamphlet of the meeting will be distributed to every dental practice in the UK, every Member of Parliament and every opinion former and policy maker.

The Dental Practitioners Association supports and represents 'high street' dentists on terms and conditions in the UK. This meeting was organised by www.2020Health.org, a new grass-roots, on-line think tank for Health and Social Care.

www.uk-dentistry.org
www.uk-dentistry.org/downloads.php

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