Conference 2013
| It is with much pleasure that I, as chair of conference 2013, invite LDC
representatives and GDPC members to attend the 62nd Annual Conference of Local
Dental Committees. This year the conference will be held in London at the Hilton
London Metropole. I am delighted to be able to tell you that Denplan are supporting the event this year as the platinum sponsor and I am most grateful to them for their support. It is a great honour to have been elected to chair your Conference and I thank you for the opportunity. Once again the profession is facing changing and challenging times. We have the prospect of a new contract looming and it is important that we work with the Department of Health to ensure that we have a contract that at last is good for patients and good for dentists. We also have the changing architecture of the NHS itself. There are opportunities for LDCs to engage with the new NHS. It is important that LDCs take that opportunity and are proactive rather than reactive, in order to play a full part in shaping dentistry in the new NHS. |
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Meanwhile we are all still working under the old and somewhat discredited 2006 contract. We cannot simply pin all our hopes on the vision of a perfect new contract while the ills of the old contract remain. We need to continue to address the flaws of this contract and to address the problems currently facing dentists. Whether this is from heavy-handed PCTs trying to claw money back under dubious pretences, or from the continuing financial pressures on dentists, brought about by the squeezing of contract values and the relentless pay cuts, it is clear that now is as difficult a time as any for ourselves and our colleagues. The continuing burden of regulation shows no sign of abating. This all leads to mounting pressure on dentists and the situation where many are selling up and taking earlier retirement than was previously planned. Those that remain, work under constant strain. This cannot be good for patients or for the future of our profession. I hope that LDC representatives will listen to the concerns of their constituents and bring them all to Conference where they can be heard and debated fully. Conference is about informing but is also about listening and I hope that LDCs will submit motions which will stimulate debate and demonstrate our resolve, ultimately sending a loud and clear message to our negotiators: the General Dental Practice Committee of the BDA.
Following the success of the online booking system used for the first time last
year we are continuing to use that method for this year, so please:
1. Book your conference and dinner tickets on-line by clicking here
2. Submit your motions here
3. Nominations to GDPC should be submitted on-line here
3. Book your hotel on-line via this link or by completing this form which will then be sent by email to MICE Concierge -
please note that the deadline for booking hotels is Monday 8 April 2013
1. Book your conference and dinner tickets on-line by clicking here
2. Submit your motions here
3. Nominations to GDPC should be submitted on-line here
3. Book your hotel on-line via this link or by completing this form which will then be sent by email to MICE Concierge -
please note that the deadline for booking hotels is Monday 8 April 2013
May I remind you that motions must be submitted by Friday 5 April in order to meet the printing deadlines that the Conference Committee work to.
As is the usual custom, Conference will be preceded by dinner on the evening of the 6 June, also at the London Hilton Metropole. I am delighted that we have been able to secure the well known sports commentator and personality John Motson OBE, as after dinner speaker.
I look forward to welcoming you to the LDC Conference 2013.
Richard Elvin
2013 LDC Conference Chair