Premier Award Winners 2009

This year’s Premier Symposium, organised by Dental Protection and Schülke was the setting for the announcement of the winners of the Premier Awards 2009. This annual risk management competition has a total prize fund of £6,000 and accepts entries from projects which recognise the importance of patient safety. Congratulations go to this year’s winners:

Undergraduate Prize
1st Richard Beckwith, University of Sheffield
Difficulties in obtaining valid consent in clinical dentistry.

2nd Rachel Ingle, University of Sheffield
A comparison of HTM01-05 guidance with the sterilisation of reusable instruments in the Dental Practice Unit, University of Sheffield.

Postgraduate prize
1st Flt Lt James Roberts
An audit to assess the cleanliness and storage of decontaminated dental instruments.

2nd Richard Holliday
Dental record keeping and the role of oral cancer screening in the dental access centre.

DCP prize
1st Michelle Mitchell
Ethical considerations in 21st century dental hygiene.

2nd Amy Wilkins
Extending the role of the dental nurse in the orthodontic practice: the patients' perspective.

This year’s competition was of a very high calibre, and even though Sheffield Dental School was predominant amongst the winning entries, Kathy Harley, Chair of Dental Protection, who presented the awards took time to encourage dentists and DCPs from all regions of the UK to participate again next year.

Kevin Lewis, Dental Director of Dental Protection said, “The entries to this year’s Awards have once again exceeded our expectations, with so many different projects being submitted by a wide variety of dental professionals. The Awards focus on raising the awareness and management of risks within the practice, and we are delighted that so many of this year’s entries were so relevant to many of the hot topics in UK dentistry.

The Awards were presented during the annual Premier Symposium, a risk management event created for all members of the team. This year’s successful event saw over 300 dental professionals gather to hear topical and informative lectures on body dysmorphia and patient expectations, HTM01-05 guidance, business risks and restorative dentistry, amongst others. The organisers also wish to thank Smile-on and Henry Schein for their sponsorship of the symposium that helped to make the day possible.

If you would like to receive details of next year’s Awards you can register your interest by emailing sarah.garry@mps.org.uk