The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) is delighted that John Woodcock, Labour MP for Barrow, has backed their campaign for tax relief on continuing professional development (CPD) costs by tabling a Parliamentary question on the subject.

At the moment, employees are not allowed tax relief on the cost of CPD, even when CPD is required by the registering body and is therefore necessary to remain working in specific professions. This ruling applies to all employees, not just those working in dentistry.

BADN is running a campaign to lobby Treasury Minister David Gauke and MPs to change this decision. Dental nurses are particularly hard hit, due to low salaries and the fact that the majority of dental employers do not pay for CPD, leaving dental nurses to pay their own CPD costs out of their minimum wage salaries.

Unfortunately, Mr Gauke's response to Mr Woodcock's question was merely a version of that given to BADN and those who have already taken part in the campaign – that there are no plans to introduce tax relief for CPD costs.

BADN President Nicola Docherty said 'We would encourage more MPs to [back our campaign]. In order to make MPs aware of the problem, we would urge all members of the dental team, not just dental nurses, and members of other professions who find themselves in the same situation, to lobby David Gauke and their local MP. A copy of our letter and briefing note to David Gauke, his reply and a sample lobbying letter can all be downloaded from the BADN website www.badn.org.uk.'

The BADN has also expressed concern about the composition of the new General Dental Council (GDC). It is concerned that, of the six dental appointments available on the Council, five appointees are dentists and only one is a DCP: dental technician David Smith. This is despite the largest GDC registrant list being dental nurses.