Today is election day, and predictions indicate that the government may change. Regardless of who takes charge, it is crucial that our NHS is protected. When the NHS was established, the cabinet included about seven former coal miners who passionately lobbied for their constituents, similar to how global food companies lobby to keep health-altering addictives like sugar in our food. Notably, Nye Bevan resigned in 1951 when dental charges were introduced, signaling his discontent with the direction of healthcare. The healthcare system introduced in 1948 needs to evolve. We need Health Advocates to guide us towards improved health. Specifically, we need more dental nurses focusing on delivering preventive care that the public genuinely needs, rather than more dentists providing treatment that only those who can afford it seek.
We have an exciting opportunity to enhance your scope of practice through flexible commissioning, as promoted by Health Education England (HEE). There are currently seven undersubscribed courses available across the UK, offering further training for our 70,000 dental nurses. You can explore these courses here in Apprenticeship Training Courses.
https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/422/providers
These courses not only provide professional benefits but also contribute to the public’s health. For more detailed information, you can view the HEE NHS promotion presentation on Level 4 apprenticeships here: NHS ICB Integrated Health Board Presentation
There are potential funding and places available for online learning in August at Cavity Dental Training Limited (cavity training.co.uk) 01184023790
For details in the South west contact katy.gordon@yeovil.ac.uk
I am developing a portal focused on teledentistry, 3D printing, and the use of Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) in schools and care homes to improve our nation’s dental health and potentially increase your income. If you’re interested, please contact me. I will be hosting a webinar with detailed information on how to implement these changes for our collective well-being through our website, dentalhealthservice.co.uk which I’ll release in August.
While waiting for courses in the UK, you might want to take advantage of the approved free CE (CPD) courses from the US, where SDF has been used for children since 2016. Check out the courses here: https://www.dentalcare.com/en-us/ce-courses/ce678
For further information and to get involved, please contact me via http://care4teeth.org, which includes all my contact details. Together, we can improve our NHS, even if we are not formally employed by it.
Our nation’s health is too important to leave solely to politicians. By collaborating as a unified dental profession, we can act as the Health Advocates our NHS needs. We can demonstrate that a grassroots approach to health prevention is far more effective than the top-down corporate model that rewards the treatment of avoidable diseases.
It’s time for a change, let’s try something different and help deliver an integrated health and social service.
Leave a Reply