Why only ethics can really change dentistry

Being in private practice, perhaps it is assumed that one would not care what happens outside and particularly in the health service. There almost seems a deliberate disconnection that means once you leave, you really are not interested any more. For me nothing could be further from the truth. Looking at the nation’s general dentistry from the outside I find it fascinating how and why the system is constantly changing.

There always seems to be a new contract, a new drive, a new way of doing things ‘better’ in the NHS. Why is that? As far as I can remember the system has never been perceived to be totally right and fair to patients or dentists. If it was, it would never change, but pilot after pilot, different ideas are tried to steer funding this way or that.