New Director for UK Cochrane Centre

Mike Burton, an Oxford surgeon, takes up the post of Director of the UK Cochrane Centre (UKCC) in September 2011. Mr Martin Burton is the first practising clinician to be appointed in the role and will continue to be an Ear, Nose and Throat Consultant at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust.

Mr Burton is also a Senior Clinical Lecturer in the Nuffield Department of Surgery at the University of Oxford. He has been a member of the Cochrane Collaboration since 1998 when he helped establish the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group.

Mr Burton said: 'I am delighted to be taking up this new role within the Cochrane Collaboration. The UK Cochrane Centre supports more than 20 groups in the UK that are funded by the National Institute for Health Research to produce high quality reviews of the effects of treatment.'

'I have always been an enthusiastic advocate for evidence-based medicine. This role allows me to work with others who are equally passionate and committed to improving the quality of healthcare for patients in the UK and beyond.'

'My vision for the future of the UK Cochrane Centre is one that centres around engaging with patients, healthcare workers - of all sorts - and researchers, to ensure that patients receive the best and most effective treatments and avoid or minimise the harms that some therapies may cause.'

The UKCC was established in Oxford in 1992 and is one of 14 Cochrane Centres worldwide (the Cochrane Collaboration). These bring together research and exchange knowledge for the benefit of patients across the globe. The UKCC is an integral part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) that supports research within the NHS.

SIGN begins update of existing caries guidelines

SIGN, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (www.sign.ac.uk)has just commenced work on a selective update of their two existing guidelines, SIGN 47 Preventing dental caries in children at high caries risk: targeted prevention of dental caries in the permanent teeth of 6-16 year olds presenting for dental care, and SIGN 83 Prevention and management of dental decay in the pre-school child. The revised guideline is expected to be ready for Spring 2013.

SDCEP Launches two new guidance documents

SDCEP (Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme) has recently launched two new guidance documents; The Oral Health Management of Patients Prescribed Bisphosphonates which provides clear and practical advice for dentists in primary care on how to provide care for patients prescribed these drugs. The guidance is also of relevance to prescribers and dispensers of bisphosphonates and to patients. The other document is Oral Health Assessment and Review (OHAR), which concerns the dental check up. OHAR aims to facilitate the move from a restorative approach to patient care to a preventive and long-term approach that is risk-based and meets the specific needs of individual patients. It also aims to encourage the involvement of patients in managing their own oral health. In addition to the guidance document an assessment checklist and examples of recording forms are available for download. All the documents are available to download at www.scottishdental.org/cep