Fluoridation in Hull

The BDA has thrown its weight behind discussions which could lead to the fluoridation of public water supplies in Hull. The measures would see Hull residents join the 5.5 million people in the UK who benefit from drinking fluoridated water – whether naturally occurring or artificially topped up – at the optimal level for good teeth.

Accountability hearing

The BDA has backed calls for troubled regulator the General Dental Council (GDC) to undergo regular Parliamentary accountability hearings. In its first hearing (11 March) in front of the Commons Health Committee the GDC Chair and its Chief Executive came under unprecedented scrutiny. The Professional Standards Authority have described the GDC as worse than seven of the eight professional regulators it oversees.

Friends and Family Test

The BDA has published an open letter to the Chief Dental Officer (England), in response to potentially misleading messages sent to dentists by NHS England concerning the Friends and Family Test (FFT). The communication describes the BDA as having 'agreed' to the FFT requirement that was imposed on the profession. The BDA has questioned the value of the test to both patients and practitioners.

It is NHS England's intention that from 1 April 2015, NHS dental service providers will be required to implement the FFT - a feedback tool that supports the fundamental principle that people who use NHS funded services should have the opportunity to provide feedback on their experience that can be used to improve services. The FFT test has been imposed in dentistry following the regular GDPC discussions with NHS England over efficiency savings, and accepted by the BDA in that context.