Interesting challenges

2010 will see some interesting challenges in the UK dental world. We have a new president of the General Dental Council, although it’s not called that any longer. We now have a chair. Alison Lockyer becomes the first chair of the new GDC following on from Hugh Matthewson who held the role for the transition. She will be a popular choice as she is a high profile GDP who does not appear to have lost her roots. One former member of the GDC, Brian Lux doesn’t think that she was the right choice. He would have preferred a lay member, according to his post on GDP UK.

Alison Lockyer will be a popular choice as the dental profession may feel that it has some input into its own regulation. Many have felt that the GDC had gone too far in effectively ending self-regulation. Does it really matter whether the GDC is appointed or elected? Does it really matter if there is a chair who is a dentist?