Patients and the FGDP(UK)
As a patient, your voice is represented in the FGDP(UK) by lay members (people who are not health professionals) who are part of our Lay Advisory Group (LAG).
Who are the LAG and what do they do?
The LAG is made up of dentists and members of the public. It plays an important role in making sure that the patient's perspective is represented in all of the FGDP(UK)'s work and in highlighting issues that are of concern to patients.
 Read the Terms of Reference for the LAG
The current LAG has six lay members:
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Bob Elford
(Chair) |
Pamela Ormerod
(Vice Chair) |
David Johns |
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Ashish Vithaldas |
Kathy Tormann |
John Taylor |
The LAG has contributed to various consultations on behalf of the FGDP(UK). Recent ones are listed below – click on the links to read the LAG responses.
Each year the LAG produces a report to the FGDP(UK)'s Annual General Meeting. The 2007 report can be viewed below:
LAG Annual Report May 2007
Guidance for patients
The LAG is working with the FGDP(UK) to put together patient guidance on areas such as training, education and qualifications in dentistry, as well as clear information on standards in areas such as cosmetic dentistry. These will be added to the Frequently asked questions section.
Some important guidance published by the LAG is Patients' Rights and Responsibilities. This sets out what patients can expect as part of their oral healthcare service, as well as their responsibilities as a patient.
Read Patients' Rights and Responsibilities
Many articles from the FGDP(UK) have appeared in national magazines and newspapers, including supplements to The Times and Reveal magazine. Visit the Articles and reports section to read these, as well as FGDP(UK) press releases and other documents that you might find interesting.
Current areas of patient concern: your opinion counts
The LAG and the FGDP(UK) are currently looking at several issues that are of general concern to dental patients. These include:
- Tooth whitening and cosmetic dentistry
- Finding out about the qualifications that your dental professional has and what they mean
- Providing useful information to patients through the NHS online
- Checks on dentists coming to work in the UK from oversees
- The evidence behind claims by government and dental bodies on patients' access to dental treatment
- The types of treatment that dental care professionals can and can't provide
- Issues around patients travelling outside the UK for dental treatment
- Working with other patient groups to look at areas where more research is needed in dentistry
If you have any comments or questions for the LAG on the issues above, or you would like to raise some concerns you might have about the training of dental professionals or standards in dentistry, then please email the FGDP(UK) at fgdp@rcseng.ac.uk.
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