Chair for Liz Kay

Liz Kay has been promoted to the Chair of Dental Health Services Research at Manchester University.

Professor Kay (below) is currently senior lecturer in health services research and honorary consultant in dental public health at Manchester — a post she has held since 1994. She first became a lecturer in dental public health at Glasgow in 1986, moving to a senior lectureship in dental public health at Dundee in 1990 and then the post of Senior (NHS) registrar in dental public health for South Glamorgan, Clwyd and Gwynedd and Dyfed health authorities in 1992.

Poggo withdraws GA service

The Poggo Group has decided to withdraw general anaesthetic services from its clinics. The move is one of the most high-profile reactions to the GDC's guidelines on anaesthesia, issued in November 1998. Poggo will still provide sedation services and relative analgesia to patients.

Colin Poggo said: 'It has been apparent for some time that, sooner or later, all general anaesthesia would take place in purpose built day-stay centres'.

Colgate research awards

Above: recipients of the Colgate Research Awards, at the BDA in London. The awardees, who are set to gain work experience in specialist institutions around the world, are: Supriya Kapas, Aylin Baysan, Rachell Hall, Ivan Darby, Julian Yates, Claire Elcock and Michael Harrison.

BADN pair shows the way to colleagues

Two staff from the British Association of Dental Nurses have passed the BDTA's Introduction to Dentistry examination.

Pamela Swain and Dot Hawkins (pictured below) picked up their certificates from BDTA president Brian Whitby at the Royal Society of Medicine in London.

The pair will be the first of many from the BADN to pass the examination — the organisation has decided follow the example of BDTA members and make the course compulsory for its staff.

Association gives DBCs a new voice

A new association has been formed for Dental Bodies Corporate. Chaired by Jonathan Wood, the Association of Corporate Dental Practices says it will focus on 'the shared vision' of its members and will recognise that the country's growing band of DBCs do not always have the same aims and interests.

At its inaugural meeting in November 1998 the new body agreed its founding principles, including a commitment to raise the level of investment in dentistry, develop in-house quality-control procedures and formulate a code of practice.

Insurance for dentists will be compulsory

All dentists and doctors will need to have full insurance under new Government proposals to make professional indemnity cover a statutory requirement.

The change follows cases in which patients were unable to claim against uninsured clinicians who mistreated them, even though damages were awarded.

Once backed by legislation the proposals will require professional indemnity cover for all 'independent contractor' professions and their clinical staff.

The MDU, which estimates that only 3% of the medical and dental professions will be affected, welcomed the proposals.

Oral and dental research trust awards

Above: recipients of the 1998 Procter and Gamble research awards, presented by the Oral and Dental Research Trust, at the Royal Society of Medicine. The awardees were invited to give short reviews of their research.

Blinkhorn is new Manchester dean

Anthony (Andy) Blinkhorn is the new dean at Manchester University's dental school.

Professor Blinkhorn qualified from Guy's in 1970. He got his PhD at Manchester and returned there in 1992 as professor of oral health.

Hunt steps up

Nigel Hunt has been appointed to the clinical professorship in orthodontics at the Eastman.

In his speciality Professor Hunt is a postgraduate teacher, research worker and clinician. He is currently head of the orthodontic department, programme director and director of orthodontic research at the Eastman and honorary civilian consultant adviser to the Defence Dental Agency.

Access all areas

Health minister John Denham has announced funding for a second wave of Personal Dental Services pilots designed to improve access to NHS dental care.

Due to start in October this year, a total of £340,000 will be available for new PDS pilots and the Government expects half the country's health authorities to take part.

Services to be provided by the second PDS wave include: a mobile dental surgery for housebound patients; the introduction of dental therapists for simple treatments to free-up dentists for more complex cases, enabling them to register more patients; and an improvement of orthodontic treatment facilities for children.

Well-travelled Fellow

The first travel Fellowship has been awarded to Stephen Smith (below, right), consultant in restorative dentistry at the Eastman.

The award, from the Consultants in Restorative Dentistry Group, allowed Mr Smith to extend his stay at Sydney University's Faculty of Dentistry, where he was made a visiting specialist in periodontics.

New Products

A penny for your thoughts on EMU

The BDTA rounded-off 1998 with a debate on Europe at its Midwinter Meeting at the Royal Society of Medicine.

The debate centred on the issue of European monetary union: Malcolm Bruce MP and Simon Lane of Skillbond Direct made the case for joining EMU and Francis Maude MP and John Stroud of Astra Pharmaceuticals argued against participation. Dr Ulrich Wanner, secretary general of the Association of Dental Dealers in Europe, chaired the debate.

Before the debate began the audience was asked to put a penny into one of three boxes (below) to show its view on the subject — the result was in favour of joining EMU, though the number of those voting 'don't know' and against increased in a second vote that followed the debate.

36-hour lab service

Attenborough Dental's 36-hour laboratory Express service was launched at the 1998 Dental Showcase.

With the new service, work arriving at the laboratory before 8.30am is turned-round by the next day and the job dispatched by 5pm on an overnight courier.

The normal 3-day and 7-day laboratory services are still available. Full details of Attenborough's Express service can be found on the company's website at: www.attenborough.com

Reader response number: 051

Get some colour with Colgate

Colgate has launched the colouring competition for 1998/1999. Open to children of six-years-old and under, the competition will run until July 30, 1999.

Above: Chris Hunt, managing director of Stratec UK (right) with Professor Bradley at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery at the Royal London Hospital. Mr Hunt handed over a plating kit for the Department's visit to Nepal.

This year the competition will feature the Rugrats cartoon characters. Special competition colouring pads of 100 sheets are available for waiting rooms, or for children to take home. They come with crayons supplied for younger entrants.

Reader response number: 052

Restorative offers

Ivoclar-Vivadent has a range of new year offers on restorative products.

Every purchase of Ariston pHc Cavifil intro kit comes with a free Tetric Ceram refill pack in shade 210/A3, worth more than £45. A promotion pack of Ceram is available for £79.95, the same price as an assortment pack but with composite packing instrument, 55ml of Proxyt prophy paste, Vivapad light-protecting mixing palette and 40 Cavifils in 4 shades.

Dentists who buy Compoglass F cavifil refill packs get another pack free; there is a 'three for two' offer on Apexit root canal sealer.

Reader response number: 053

Growing pains

Almost half the companies in the dental industry did not grow in 1997, according to Plimsoll Publishing's report Dentistry — first edition 1999. As only 3% of companies did not grow in 1993 the statistic appears to confirm pessimistic industry growth forecasts, though there is a small band of companies that still achieved 20% or higher annual sales growth in 1997.

The news on pre-tax profit margins is also gloomy — they hit an all-time low of 2.5% in 1996, rising to to 4.5% in 1997. The report costs £305, with a 5% discount for BDJ readers (call Jennifer Ovington on 01642 257800).

Barney joins the club

Trycare has added the Barney character (above) to its range of Motivator stickers. Prices start at £19.95 for rolls of 500 stickers.

Reader response number: 054