Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

P reventing cancer, cutting tooth decay in children and the population weighing less, are just some of the chal- lenges local councils will be able to track their progress against when they take over looking af- ter the health and wellbeing of their residents, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced. For the first time, public health will be measured against a framework, which sets out 66 health measures, so councils and the Government are able to see real improvements being made and take any action needed. From April next year, coun- cils will be given a ring-fenced budget – a share of around £5.2 billion based on 2012/13 funding – and will be able to choose how they spend it according to the needs of their population. Those who make the most improve- ments will be rewarded with a cash incentive. The results this progress will be measured against include: • fewer children under five will have tooth decay • people will weigh less • more women will breastfeed their babies • fewer over 65s will suffer falls; • fewer people will smoke • fewer people will die from heart disease and stroke But public health is more than just moving more and eat- ing well. It’s also about tackling the causes of ill-health. That is why the new measures also look at school attendance, domestic abuse, homelessness and air pol- lution. Speaking at the Royal Society for Public Health, Andrew Lans- ley said: “We are giving local coun- cils the money, the power, the right expertise and information to build healthier communities. Every area of the country is dif- ferent so councils will be able to decide what the most impor- tant public health concern is for them and spend the money ap- propriately. “It is absolutely right that the budget and decision making sits with councils. They will be able to address all aspects that affect our wellbeing – such as school attendance, homelessness and fuel poverty – in the round. “Using the framework we have published today, local pro- fessionals will be able to make real changes to improve health.” The Health Secretary also highlighted how public health has already started to change, thanks to the Responsibility Deal. Now, people on the high street can be reassured that ar- tificial trans fats are not lurking in their food from many out- lets such as Greggs, Costa or McDonald’s. In supermarkets, people will know a lot of the food going into their basket will have less salt in. And custom- ers will know that when they eat out at popular high street res- taurants this year over a third of meals and takeaways will have their calories labelled, helping people to opt for the healthier options. Andrew Lansley added: “The Responsibility Deal has led to real changes for everyone and we can now see these in our everyday life – on our high street, in our supermarkets and at work too. “People might not realise that these changes are down to the Responsibility Deal but we can now see that it is helping people to live healthier lives.” DT Helping people live healthier lives A campaign has been launched to crack down on the growing scourge of il- legal dentistry across the UK. The British Association of Clinical Dental Technology (BACDT) has created a website – www.dentureprofessionals.org - which allows consumers to find a clinical dental technician who is registered with the General Den- tal Council. Unless a CDT is registered with the GDC, they are not per- mitted to provide dentures direct- ly to the public. However, there are a rising number of cases of dental technicians – as opposed to clinical dental technicians – breaching the GDC’s regulations. Dental technicians are not regis- tered to provide dentures to con- sumers or work independently in a clinic. Barrie Semp, a member of the BACDT board and owner of denture clinic The Smile Centre, said: “The BACDT has become increasingly concerned about the rise in illegal dentistry and the website we have launched is aimed at helping to stamp out the problem. “Our profession has very clear rules which state that only prop- erly registered Clinical Dental Technicians are able to consult patients and provide members of the public with dentures. “Dental technicians, while qualified, are usually based in dental laboratories or, with fur- ther training, permitted to assist CDTs or dentists.” The site has arrived at a good time as concerns surrounding clinical dental technicians who are not properly qualified, have no insurance and are neither reg- ulated nor registered are mount- ing. Clinical dental technicians are incredibly positive about the new website and believe its role will help “flush out” those who are not registered and help to pro- tect patient lives from being en- dangered by non-register CDTs. A Devon man recently plead- ed guilty to carrying out illegal dentistry practices. Stephen Sick- elmore was found to be running an illegal denture fitting and sup- ply business from his home in Dawlish following an investiga- tion by Devon County Council’s Trading Standards officers. Roger Croad, a Devon County Council Cabinet Member, said: “The law protects patients by put- ting a strict duty of care on dental care professionals to be suitably- qualifiedandmedicallycompetent before they can treat a patient.” The new site has other func- tions as well, one being to pro- mote CDTs. Currently more than sixmillionpeopleintheUKwhere a denture of some kind, however not everyone is aware that CDTs are specialists in this field. A spokesperson from the GDC said: “All dental professionals (dental technicians and clinical dental technicians included) have to be registered with the GDC to work in the UK. The duties each title can carry out are laid out in our Scope of Practice document. “The GDC is committed to taking action against people who practise dentistry illegally, whetherthey’ve been removed from our register or never gained the qualifications to register in the first place. They are a risk to the people they treat and the GDC will do everything it can to ensure public safety. “To report illegal practice please email: IllegalPractice@ gdc-uk.org” Anyone considering using the services of a Clinical Dental Tech- nician should visit the BACDT’s website www.dentureprofes- sionals.org and can also verify their choice of CDT by visiting the GDC’s website at www.gdc- uk.org. DT Stamping out illegal dentistry The ‘workplace’ of Stephen Sicklemore S tripping cigarette packs of their colourful exte- riors and forcing them to be sold in plain packaging has become the new weapon of choice for governments across the world as they fight against tobacco companies; and for the global tobacco industry it could prove to be a fatal blow. With successful trials already in place in Australia, a UK campaign group aims to lobby for plain packs as soon as the Department of Health begins its consultation on plain packaging for cig- arettes. So far they have launched the Plain Packs Pro- tect partnership with Smoke- free South West, Cancer Re- search UK and other key health bodies. According to a report, Si- mon Chapman, a professor of public health at the University of Sydney, believes that plain pack cigarettes will have an instant effect on tobacco firms’ profits, mainly because there will be no clear leader in the hierarchy that has been es- tablished within the tobacco industry thanks to successful marketing campaigns. However, although there has been a string of success- es against tobacco compa- nies, with price hikes, smok- ing bans and advertisement bans, Chapman has raised doubts that other tactics could be put in place with health issues such as drinking and obesity. Even though drinking can contribute to the risk of mouth cancer, Chap- man believes that using plain packaging for alcohol will only “antagonise people unneces- sarily”; however, he does back restricted opening times for pubs and clubs and graphic warnings on labels. http:// www.guardian.co.uk/soci- ety/2012/jan/24/simon-chap- man-plain-cigarette-packag- ing-activist?INTCMP=SRCH DT ‘Plain packs will make smoking history’ Could stripping cigarette packs of their colourful exteriors and forcing them to be sold in plain packaging be the new weapon to tackle smoking? February 6-12, 20122 News United Kingdom Edition