DTUK1710

The last few weeks have seen a wave of cutbacks by the coalition Govern- ment akin to an over- enthusiastic garden- er and a new set of hedge trimmers. First to go was the controver- sial Vetting and Barring scheme, which admittedly was much more political than fiscal. Then there was a cull of project fund- ing which had been agreed by the previous government since Jan- uary. Projects such as the Stone- henge Visitor Centre, the roll out of the Future Jobs Fund and the building of a new North Tees and Hartlepool hospital have all been cut, while the Health Re- search Support Initiative and Search and Rescue Helicopters are some of the projects which have been suspended. Then there was the budget. Deputy PM Nick Clegg paved the way for doom and gloom in an email newsletter sent out the day before entitled Why we have to do this. Flashbacks of Dad with a paddle saying ‘it’s for your own good’ aside, the country braced itself for cuts in public spending, rises in tax and duty on all the good things in life and a rough ride as the country tries to stop the slide into a Greece- style financial crisis. We will be look- ing into the budget in much more depth with regards to health- care in the next issue of Dental Tribune, so watch this space. DT Do you have an opinion or some- thing to say on any Dental Tribune UK article? Or would you like to write your own opinion for our guest comment page? If so don’t hesitate to write to: The Editor, Dental Tribune UK Ltd, 4th Floor, Treasure House, 19-21 Hatton Garden, London, EC1 8BA Or email: lisa@dentaltribuneuk.com Editorial comment Cut to the quick 05414 Brushing and flossing are vital, but don’t always get the attention they deserve. For a deeper clean recommend Listerine If oral hygiene isn’t getting their undivided attention, why not recommend adding Listerine? It kills bacteria deep in the plaque-biofilm.1 And, added to brushing and flossing, provides up to 52% extra plaque reduction.2 References: 1. Data on file, McNeil-PPC Inc. 2. Sharma NC et al. J Am Dent Assoc 2004; 135: 496-504. 02782_ocdlis_DenTribune_floss_WP_A4_fa1.indd 1 6/7/10 12:51:36 PM D ental hygienists and thera- pists can now prescribe and administer local an- aesthetic and fluoride varnish, af- ter a change in the law. The legislation came into force on 1 June and dental hy- gienists and therapists can now prescribe and administer local anaesthetics and sell, supply or orally administer fluoride sup- plements and toothpastes with high fluoride content. Under the Medicines Act 1968, local anaesthetic can only be prescribed by a suitably quali- fied prescriber - traditionally a doctor or a dentist. Legislation was introduced throughout the UK in 2000 to allow certain other healthcare professionals to administer pre- scription-only medicine in spe- cific circumstances. However, dental hygienists and therapists were missed off the list of healthcare professionals able to administer medicines. The General Dental Council (GDC) immediately publicised the problem and issued a statement to registrants informing them that, until the law could be amended, hygienists and therapists should only give local anaesthesia to pa- tients if it had been specifically prescribed by a dentist. The Medicines and Health- care products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has now added dental hygienists and therapists to the group of healthcare profession- als who are able to prescribe lo- cal anaesthetic under a patient group direction. Alison Lockyer, chair of the GDC said: “We are pleased that this change has been made, it ad- dresses an anomaly in the legisla- tion which we had identified. The change will enable more effective working by the dental team.” DT LA law change 3NewsJune 28-July 4, 2010United Kingdom Edition