A prevention oriented NHS has been promised by Health Education England (HEE) which has announced that Malcolm Smith is the new Chair of their Advancing Dental Care (ADC) programme.

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A former Postgraduate Dental Dean for HEE North East, Malcolm, has a wealth of experience in dental education commissioning and training. His role will be to develop the dental workforce over the second phase of the ADC programme from 2019-2021, ensuring close alignment with the priorities outlined in the Long Term Plan for the NHS.

Leading on a broad programme which is designed to deliver the recommendations of the 2017-18 Advancing Dental Care Review, Malcolm will take an evidence-based approach to develop dental training that responds to the changing needs of patients and services, in a prevention-oriented integrated NHS, said HEE.

Malcolm commented: 'With the Long Term Plan for the NHS setting a clear strategic direction for the service and a strong commitment to develop the workforce, the timing couldn't be more appropriate to work with partners across the system to 'futureproof' the dental workforce for generations to come.

'I look forward to working closely with colleagues, dental organisations, other stakeholders and patients so that, together, we can produce models and pathways to enable oral health to take its rightful place in the holistic healthcare improvement.'