Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

T he British Dental Associa- tion (BDA) in Northern Ire- land is calling for a clear timetable for the progression of the reform of Health Service den- tal care to be set. The call is being made ahead of the fifth anniversary of the pub- lication of recommendations for the reform of dental services in the Department of Health, Social Security and Public Safety’s Pri- mary Dental Care Strategy. That document, which was published on 16 November 2006, set out a prevention-focused direction for dental services, the care patients receive and the system in which dentists practise. TheBDAhaslongcampaigned for new arrangements that will bring a new preventive emphasis to Health Service dentistry and supported the proposals outlined in 2006. Such arrangements, the BDA believes, will help tackle the unacceptable oral health in- equalities that continue to plague Northern Ireland’s communities. Dr Peter Crooks, Chair of BDA’s Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee, said: “It is now nearly five years since Gov- ernment set out a vision for bet- ter dental care for our citizens. We should, by now, be seeing the implementation of new arrange- ments. Dentists know that con- tinuing with the present arrange- ments simply isn’t an option if Northern Ireland is serious about tackling the poor oral health and inequalities that plague its com- munities. We have been positive about the proposed changes, re- peatedly stressing our commit- ment to constructive engagement in taking reform forward. Now is the time for action. “We call on the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to mark the fifth anniversa- ry of its proposals by re-affirming its commitment to reform and set- ting out a clear and realistic time- table for it. That timetable must include a date by which pilots for a more prevention-focused con- tract are expected to begin.” DT ‘‘Clear timetable must be set’’ says BDA N ovember is famously known as Movember, a time when clean shav- en men sprout moustaches and learn the art of moustachery as they groom, trim and wax their way into displaying a fine ‘soup-strainer’. The aim of the month is awareness for men’s health and to raise vital funds, with the main areas of concern being prostate cancer and other can- cers that directly affect men. The moustaches promote con- versation around the topic of men’s health – a subject that is usually swept under the carpet. Men’s health has also been put under the spotlight at Leeds Metropolitan University, after the report, The State of Men’s Health in Europe, was debated recently. The report, The State of Men’s Health in Europe, was published earlier this year by the European Commission and revealed that the male popula- tion is changing, with a reduc- tion of 24 million men of work- ing age (15-64) and an increase of 32 million men aged 65 and over across Europe by 2060. Its lead author, Professor Alan White, the world’s first Professor of Men’s Health at Leeds Metropolitan University, presented the findings at an Expert Symposium on Men’s Health as part of the launch of the University’s Institute for Health & Wellbeing. Prof White said: “The report shows that the old are getting older and the reduction of men of working age across Europe will create major new chal- lenges to the health and so- cial care sectors, as well as for the workforce, employers and economies.” The report revealed several interesting facts and compari- sons between men and women, which really highlighted the need to focus on men’s health. In terms of the differences between men and women, the report (among other things) re- vealed that: • Life expectancy for the EU27 stands at 76.07 for men and 82.21 for women, ranging from 80yrs in Iceland and Lichten- stein to 66.3yrs in Lithuania (a gap of 13.7 years) • In 2007, there were over 630,000 male deaths between the ages of 15 and 64 years of age as compared to 300,000 fe- male deaths. When the causes of these deaths were analysed they ex- tended across the majority of conditions that should be seen to affect men and women equal- ly. Although men’s increased susceptibility to cardiovascu- lar disease and deaths as a result of accidents in their ear- lier years is quite well known, their vulnerability to such a wide range of conditions is less well recognised – for in- stance, cancers, which makes awareness campaigns, such as Movember and Mouth Cancer Awareness Month, a vital date in the calendar. DT A look at the state of men’s health A ccording to a report in the Yorkshire Post, in- mates who are suffering from toothache at a Yorkshire high security prison have sued the NHS more than poor dental care; taxpayers are expected to foot the £350,000 bill. Prisoners at HMP Wake- field, which houses noto- rious criminals including Charles Bronson, Crossbow Cannibal Stephen Griffiths, child killer Robert Black and Sarah Payne’s killer Roy Whiting, received a staggering £47,500 in total for “damages”. The figures, which were re- leased under the Freedom of Information Act, revealed that pay-outs were decided depend- ing on the level of pain the in- mates had in relation to how long they had to wait for an ap- pointment; individual pay-outs ranged from £1,200 to £5,000. What is causing further out- rage is that legal cost came to £300,000 after NHS chiefs were forced to pay prisoners’ so- licitors fees; the total cost has come to £354,500, and three claims remain outstanding. Quoted in the Yorkshire Post, Gill Galdins, chief operat- ing officer for Wakefield Dis- trict Primary Care Trust, said the NHS inherited a long wait- ing list for complex and expen- sive treatment when it took over prison healthcare in 2005. She said: “The figures paid to claimants were all relatively low. When this happens it’s of- ten the case that the claimant’s solicitor’s costs are dispropor- tionate. “Where a patient experi- ences a breach of duty care and injury follows that they are en- titled to compensation.” Aprisonservicespokeswom- an said: “All claims are robust- ly defended, and would only be ettled on the basis of strong legal advice, and in order to seek the best value for the taxpayer.” However the assistant secretary of the Prison Offic- ers Association (POA), Glyn Travis, said that his association would not see anyone denied of NHS care whenever they need- ed it. He added: “What we do say is they get priority care that they don’t pay for and when they receive poor treatment they sue. “Solicitors are hap- py to take their cases because they know they will get paid in the end. “It is ridiculous; they are suing for treatment they didn’t pay for in the first place.” DT Inmates sue NHS T he Dental Defence Union (DDU) is warning dental professionals to be wary of promoting their practice by offering discount vouchers on particular treatments as they may be inadvertently mak- ing themselves vulnerable to a complaint or even a GDC inves- tigation. Rupert Hoppenbrouw- ers, head of the DDU com- mented: “While in these straitened times, it may make business sense to tempt new patients through your door with a bargain, dentists need to put their professional obliga- tions first. We have received a number of calls to our advice line from members seeking advice about whether to take part in discount voucher schemes. “Our view is that by ac- cepting discount vouchers for a particular procedure such as tooth-coloured restorations or veneers, dental profession- als are effectively committing themselves to providing inva- sive treatment which may not prove clinically necessary, ap- propriate or in the patient’s best interest on examination. If the patient has paid for and expects a particular treatment which is not in their best interest, and you are obliged to disappoint them, they may well feel justi- fied in making a complaint or even reporting you to the GDC. “The fact that the GDC was prompted to advise den- tal professionals about dis- count deals earlier this month suggests that this is a problem area, which is generat- ing complaints to the regulator.” The DDU reminds dental professionals that in promoting their practice they must meet the standards set by the GDC by avoiding any offer or claim which could be seen as mislead- ing and putting the interests of patients above their own or their business. In addition, mar- keting material must conform to the Code published by the Com- mittee of Advertising Practice (CAP). The Advertising Stand- ards Authority (ASA), which enforces the Code, can demand the withdrawal of adverts and offenders can also be referred to the Office of Fair Trading. The DDU is happy to advise members with specific dento- legal concerns about advertis- ing or promotions. DT Don’t sell yourself short Are you a Mo Bro? November 14-20, 20112 News United Kingdom Edition