Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

11InterviewApril 23-29, 2012United Kingdom Edition BOC LIFELINE® emergency equipment. Saving minutes, saves lives. Anapen® adrenaline (epinephrine)* £28 + VAT each 3 Available in 150mcg, 300mcg and 500mcg 3 Intuitive to use 3 Virtually painless LIFELINE oxygen kit 3 Lightweight oxygen cylinder 3 Built in regulator 3 Next working day refills† 3 Variety of oxygen masks 3 Single annual service charge Only £195 + VAT per annum Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) 3 Intuitive voice prompts 3 Easy to use 3 Seven year warranty Prices from £945 + VAT (AED only) BOC Healthcare BOC Healthcare, Customer Service Centre, Priestley Road, Worsley, Manchester M28 2UT bochealthcare-uk@boc.com, www.boclifeline.co.uk *Full prescribing information is available from: Lincoln Medical Ltd, Unit 8 Wilton Business Centre Wilton, Salisbury SP2 0AH, United Kingdom: POM date of Preparation – November 2009, Code: ANA/09-008. Adverse effects should be reported. Reporting forms can be found at www.yellowcard.gov.uk. Adverse events should also be reported to Lincoln Medical on +44 (00) 1722 742 900 or (0) 1748 828 785. † Depending on geographic location. Prices quoted are for a limited time only and are subject to change. The stripe symbol and the letters BOC are registered trade marks of The BOC Group Limited. Both BOC Limited and The BOC Group Limited are members of The Linde Group, the parent company of which is Linde AG. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. © BOC Limited 2011 For further information or to place an order, call 0161 930 6010 quote reference RF278 About the author Neel Kothari qualified as a den- tist from Bristol University Dental School in 2005, and currently works in Sawston, Cam- bridge as a princi- pal dentist at High Street Dental Prac- tice. He has completed a year-long postgraduate certificate in implantol- ogy and is currently undertaking the Diploma in Implantology at UCL’s Eastman Dental Institute. SS: I came into the job at the time of the new contract. I started in the February be- fore the new contract was im- posed on the 1st of April, so al- most simultaneously. I think that my biggest achievement has been to make sure that at every stage we challenged the fact that it wasn’t fit for purpose and that success- fully that challenge was un- derstood, listened to and that we’ve achieved, in po- litical terms, a turn-around of intention, to reform really quite swiftly. So I think I’m extraordi- narily proud of that. I gave evidence to the Health Select Committee and I’m proud of having done that successfully and been treated with respect and had an influence there, as well as the huge amount of teamwork that went behind it. And I also consider that, as far as we possibly can, getting the profession to work together has also been something that I’m proud of. I’m very keen that in the future we’re never divided and ruled and I suppose that if I have any messages for my successor, it’s to keep on try- ing to make sure that the pro- fession works as one and it doesn’t expose itself through fighting and internal bicker- ing. It’s hugely counter-pro- ductive and we need to make sure we present a unified front. I hope that in the way we continue to affect health, that we continue to improve it and that we’re seen as significant players in the improvement of health of the nation as well. So, whilst I don’t think den- tistry will ever be properly integrated into the NHS per se, because we’re a primary care sector of what is primar- ily a secondary care busi- ness, I think to be treated as a profession with respect and credibility is hugely im- portant and I hope that what I’ve done over the six years is to facilitate that and to move that on. At all times I think what I’ve tried to do is to promote the integrity of the profession and I hope that I’ve been an ambassador for that. NK: I think you have. SS: Thank you very much. DT ‘I’m very keen that in the future we’re never divided and ruled and I suppose that if I have a message, it’s to keep on trying to make sure that the profes- sion works as one’ The disposal of amalgam is one of the issues that has come up in recent discussions