Dentist leads mayoral procession
BDTA new president
New BDTA President Stephen Lawry took office at the Association's Midwinter Meeting at The Royal Institution in London recently, replacing retiring President, Ann Sterry. Stephen Lawry is the managing director of Coltene Whaledent, and he brings to the BDTA a lifetime of experience in the dental industry.
After qualifying as a dental technician in Nottingham, he went into retail representation for Claudius Ash, and established the retail operation for Castellini in Birmingham. He then spent many years as an international territory manager for Bayer, before being headhunted by the American company, Whaledent International. When Swiss company Coltene AG purchased Whaledent eleven years ago, Stephen Lawry was asked to form the new company Coltene Whaledent Ltd, as managing director. Its company acquisitions include Diatech Diamonds and Roeko.
The President's key objective for 2002 is the successful establishment of the BDTA's new Dental Industry Training Institute, which will be launched in the new year.
BDTA Dental Industry Training Institute
New BDTA President Stephen Lawry has announced the launch of the Dental Industry Training Institute (DITI). The aims of the Institute, he said, will be to set and ensure the best professional standards in the dental industry. Training with the DITI will equip and accredit its members with the highest level of training and expertise. Members will come from throughout the dental sector – from industry employees and engineers to practice managers.
The Association's training programme will be delivered by the DITI and will include revised and upgraded BDTA certificates. There will also be exhibition skills workshops, revision seminars, and dental updates on current issues. The Institute will offer a CPD scheme and provide a key source of information and advice on training, educational and career issues within the dental industry.
The DITI will have a new register for dental engineers during 2002 with the aim to coordinate a well-structured environment for their training. Following the recently published prospectus by the Department of Health of an NHS University, the BDTA has also offered the services of the DITI for dental non-clinical staff within the NHS. Regionally based radiological protection courses for engineers, sales and design staff are also planned.
Medical book prize awards
The annual prize awards for the best medical books was held recently at the Royal Society of Medicine.
The chairman of the Medical Group of the Society of Authors, the orthodontist Keith Isaacson, introduced Sir Roger Bannister to present the awards.
The prize of £500 for the best dental book sponsored by Colgate Palmolive was awarded to Linda Greenwall who edited Bleaching Techniques in Restorative Dentistry published by Martin Dunitz.
The judges in their comments said that this is an excellent book of increasing relevance to practitioners. The medico-legal aspects of bleaching are thoroughly covered and practitioners are strongly recommended to read the book.
The Highly Commended award went to Claire Nightingale and Jonathan Sandy for Orthodontic Picture Test Atlas published by Wright. The judges said that this was an innovative book, very appropriate for young orthodontists and bound to be very popular.
The evening was concluded by an entertaining speech from Sir Roger Bannister (who among his many other achievements has been a consultant neurologist) who congratulated all the authors present and complimented them on achieving such excellent results by working mostly in their spare time.
New guidelines for primary dental care
As part of its ongoing programme of evidence-based standards documents the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (UK) recently launched its Clinical Examination and Record-Keeping Good Practice Guidelines at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
An effective clinical examination leading to an accurate complete and contemporaneous record is the foundation of good clinical practice. Without good records the subsequent treatment of the patient is compromised.
These new guidelines provide an essential reference to different aspects of record-keeping and examination – recommendation as to best practice are highlighted throughout the book. Additionally a series of extensive appendices form a comprehensive resource that practitioners may adopt or adapt for use in their practice.
The Guidelines were developed following a full review of the literature and widespread consultation with a wide range of professional bodies and dental societies. The guidelines are best practice guidelines and will be reviewed in the future as more scientific research in the area is undertaken.
They will deal with all the common situations where clinical examination and the records are necessary. These include patient needs (history-taking and categorisation of examination by patient needs), record-keeping, full and comprehensive examination, recall examinations, record-keeping and clinical examinations in special situations and recommendations for audit and research. Clinical Examination and Record Keeping Good Practice Guidelines was supported by an educational grant from The St Paul.
European Festival of Oral Science
The European Festival of Oral Science 2002 is taking place in Cardiff this September – the first meeting of the new Pan European Federation of the International Association for Dental Research. The conference, which is the first joint meeting of the British Division, Continental European Division, Irish Division and Scandinavian Division, will take place between 25–28 September 2002 in the Cardiff International Arena. The meeting will represent the largest gathering of dental researchers from throughout Europe.
The Pan European Federation (PEF) of the International Association for Dental Research was formed in recognition of the needs and benefit of closer links between the four European divisions of the IADR.
The emergence of the European Union and its methods of research funding has encouraged thinking more in European terms and it became obvious that a closer collaboration would be beneficial both scientifically and socially. The idea of PEF began at the IADR in Nice in 1998 and was formerly recognised as an entity by the IADR in Japan in 2001.
Stephen Challacombe, as President of the British Division for this first conference, will be welcoming the delegates to Cardiff. Topics to be discussed in the lectures and symposia will include biomedical ethics, the human genome and its practical implications and health care issues in an ageing society. There will also be a trade exhibition featuring exhibitors in all fields related to the practice, teaching and research of dentistry.
For further information contact the PEF Conference Secretariat telephone 02920 232322; e-mail on PEFOFIADR@global-meeting.co.uk or see the website at www.global-meeting.co.uk
Disability code of practice
A new Code of Practice on serving disabled customers has been laid before Parliament which sets out service providers' - including dental services – current legal requirements and informs them of new duties that will come into force in October 2004.
The Minister for Disabled People Maria Eagle said the code, from the Disability Rights Commission, would help service providers plan now to ensure that physical barriers for disabled people can be overcome from 2004.
Ms Eagle said: "This code will go a long way to ensuring that businesses and other service providers are aware of what they have to do and when they have to do it – as well as ensuring disabled people have access to the same services as everyone else. I want to encourage everyone to plan for these changes and realise that the countdown to 2004 has begun."
Under the Disability Discrimination Act Part III, in addition to the existing duties, from 1 October 2004 a service provider may have to remove, alter or avoid physical features that make access to the service impossible or unreasonably difficult for a disabled person.
Maria Eagle reassured businesses that service providers have no need to be apprehensive about these new duties as they will not have to make unreasonable changes because of them.
She said that it is important to recognise there are over 8.5 million disabled people in the UK with a collective spending power of over £45 billion a year. It makes economic sense to make adjustments as well as being the right thing to do.
Since 1 October 1999, service providers have had a duty to make reasonable adjustments to the way they provide services to the public.
Where reasonable, service providers might have to change policies, practices or procedures which make access to services impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people; provide auxiliary aids and services to facilitate access to services; provide the service by reasonable alternative means where a physical feature makes access impossible or unreasonably difficult. The DRC Code of Practice will be published as soon as the Parliamentary process has been completed.
The Commission provides literature and advice on the DDA through its Helpline by phone - 08457 622 633; e-mail - enquiry@drc-gb.org ; post - DRC Helpline, FREEPOST, MID 02164, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 9BR. The Commission's website is: www.drc-gb.org .
Free patient leaflets for practices
BDA Shop are offering dental practices free patient leaflets on smoking cessation.
These leaflets were originally produced for Oral Cancer Awareness Week (11-17 November) in conjunction with 'Action on Smoking and Health' and they feature the message "Save your mouth ... and your life - stop smoking!"
The leaflet, sponsored by Pharmacia, explains to patients the harm that smoking does to oral health, advises them the best ways to quit and tells them where to obtain further advice and information.
Leaflets can be ordered (in bundles of 50) from BDA Shop.
BDA Shop can be contacted by phone on 020 7563 4171, via a.ahmad@bda-dentistry.org.uk or fax 020 7563 4556. Or write to BDA Shop, British Dental Association, 64 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 8YS.
Business St Paul's withdraw from the market
The St Paul company has announced that it is withdrawing from medical malpractice business worldwide, having forecast underwriting losses of $940 million on medical malpractice insurance for 2001.
It is not yet known if The St Paul will offer 'run off cover' to GP subscribers, however, members joining the Medical Defence Union (MDU) and Dental Protection Ltd (DPL) from The St Paul can elect to cover their potential 'run off' liabilities by purchasing what is called 'nose cover' to cover their potential 'run off' liabilities.
MDU plan to discuss with dentists individually the effect this will have on their subscription, while DPL are also keen to ensure that dentists are aware of the importance of making adequate provision for any unreported claims that might arise in the future, and which also relate to the period of their policy with The St Paul.
It is likely that the withdrawal of The St Paul from the UK medical malpractice market-place will bring even closer the introduction of regulation of medical and dental defence.
Business Honorary degrees for industry achievers
Honorary degrees celebrating the centenary of the first degrees awarded at the University of Birmingham's Dental School included Brian Schottlander, chief executive of Davis Schottlander and Davis, and Professor Herbert Sewell, chair of immunology at the University of Nottingham.
Brian Schottlander is a key member of the British Dental Trade Association and has built up a successful company in an area which is competitive internationally.
His company has supported UK dentistry through sponsoring prizes and underwriting research conferences. The University of Birmingham benefited from his company's sponsorship of two conferences and the provision of undergraduate prizes.
Professor Herbert Sewell, also awarded an honorary degree, completed his BDS at the University of Birmingham's Dental School in 1973. He went on to achieve an MSc, PhD and MRCPath in Immunology. While working as a registrar in Leicester he completed his MBChB and FRCP.
He became a consultant in Glasgow and a senior lecturer and Head of Immunology in the Department of Pathology at the University of Aberdeen.
In 1990, he was appointed Chair of Immunology at the University of Nottingham. Professor Sewell has over 60 publications to his credit and his main area of research is human immune-deficiency virus.
Diary
March 2002 Faculty of General Dental Practitioners South East Thames Division: The Worn Dentition Date: 15.03.02 Venue: Salomons Centre, Southborough Contact: Elisabeth Jarrett, Administrative Secretary, Tunbridge Wells Postgraduate Centre, Kent & Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8AT. Tel: +44 (0)1892 534244 Fax: +44 (0)1892 517692 elisabeth.jarrett@btinternet.com The Royal Society of Medicine Odontological Section Meeting: Part V Date: 18.03.02 Venue: The Royal Society of Medicine Contact: Lochana Nanayakkara, Secretary Elect, Section of Odontology, The Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London, W1G OAE. Tel: +44 (0)207 290 3934 Fax: +44 (0)207 290 2989 Study Day of the North Western Division of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners: Planning for Excellence in Crown and Bridgework Date: 20.03.02 Venue: MANDEC Dental Hospital Contact: Janet Bradshaw, Ian Wood's Dental Practice, 45 Northenden Road, Sale, Cheshire, M33 2DL. Tel: +44 (0)161 973 6356
May 2002 British and Irish Dental Associations Annual Conference Date: 02.05.02–04.05.02 Venue: Waterfront Hall, Belfast Contact: Claire Burns, Conference Manager, British Dental Association, 64 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 8YS. Tel: +44 (0)207 563 4590 Fax: +44 (0)207 563 4591 Website: www.bda-events.org.uk British Society of Periodontology Spring Scientific Meeting Date: 19.05.02–21.05.02 Venue: The Grand Hotel, Brighton Contact: Mrs A. Hallowes, Administrative Secretary, 44 Pool Road, Hartley, Wintney, Hook, Hants. RG27 8RD. Tel: +44 (0)1252 843598 Fax: +44 (0)1252 844018 bspadmin@btinternet.com
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Update. Br Dent J 192, 65–68 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4801295
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4801295
