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British Association of Dental Nurses

1940s

1940: The formation of the Association

The Association was formed in October 1940 in Leyland, Lancashire by the dentist PE Grundy, aided by his dental surgery assistants, Amelia White and Madeleine Winter who became the first General Secretary, and was originally called the ‘British Dental Nurses and Assistants Society’. It developed throughout the war years until in 1946 a full-time General Secretary, Rita Methven, was appointed followed 2 years later by Jean Smith, who remained in post until 1985.

1943: The formation of the Examining Board

The Association founded the British Dental Nurses and Assistants Examining Board in 1943, when the first examination was held. Only dentists were allowed to be examiners but in 1978 the Examining Board changed its rules to allow Registered DSAs with 7 years’ experience to be elected to the Panel. The Examining Board became a completely separate entity in the 1980s. It changed its name in 1988 to the National Examining Board for DSAs (NEBDSA) and then again in 1994 to the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN) following the Association’s decision to re-adopt the term ‘dental nurse’.

1948 The Growth of the Association

Extra part-time assistance was brought into the office due to the additional workload from the Voluntary National Register. Jean Smith had been running the Association and the Examining Board singlehanded!

The Journal begins

Monthly newssheets had been published since 1948 and the first Journal was published in the midforties. The Journal’s title was changed from ‘The British Dental Surgery Assistant’ to ‘The British Dental Nurses Journal®’ following the change of name in 1994.

1950s

1950 The first DSA President

Up until 1950 all President’s of the Association had been male dentists. In 1950 Beatrice Green was appointed the first DSA President.

1954 The Joint Consultative Committee is formed

The Association sent representatives to meet with officials from the British Dental Association to consider and make recommendations on matters of common concern to both organisations.

1960s

1960 The Association moves premises

The Association forged ahead with a move to new headquarters in Poulton-le-Fylde and new office equipment consisting of a typewriter, duplicator and addressograph machine!

1964: The Establishment of the Voluntary National Register of Dental Nurses

The Voluntary National Register was established by the Association on 1 October 1964 to encourage DSAs to train and become qualified and facilitate the employment of qualified and registered dental nurses. Over 200 DSAs returned the applications forms with the £1 fee. The Register was initially overseen by a sub-committee of the Joint Consultative Committee but later became the responsibility of the Registration Committee of the General Dental Council’s Dental Nurse Standards and Training Advisory Board. There were in excess of 9,000 Registered Dental Nurses, and the Register was administered in Fleetwood by the B.A.D.N® on behalf of DNSTAB, until its closure in 2005, just prior to the introduction of Statutory Registration with the GDC.

1970s

1976: The Association became a trade union – the Association of British Dental Surgery Assistants.

Legislation introduced by the Labour governments of the 1970s and early 1980s made it necessary for the Association to become an independent trade union within the meaning of Section 30 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations ACT 1974, in order to continue in its role of supporting dental nurses. Then, as today, the Association was politically independent, with no party political or TUC affiliations.

1978: Headquarters move to Fleetwood

The Association moved its Headquarters to Fleetwood, first to two different properties in London Street, both of which it shared with the Exam Board.

1980s

1985 Jean Smith retired as Secretary of the Association (although she continued working for the Exam Board until the end of 1991). Sue Adams (nee Ward) became General Secretary of the ABDSA, remaining in that post until 1992.

1990s

1992 A new Executive Secretary arrives

Following Sue Adam’s departure, Pam Swain joined as Executive Secretary of the Association.

1993 The Nuffield Report

Ever since it’s inception, the Association had actively supported the principle of training and registration of dental nurses. In the 1990s this started to become a real possibility. Association representatives gave evidence to the Nuffield Inquiry into the Education and Training of Personnel Auxiliary to Dentistry and the Nuffield Report was published late in 1993. The Report suggested, amongst other things, that all dental nurses should be trained, qualified and registered and that dental practices should employ only either registered dental nurses or dental nurses enrolled on an approved training programme.

1994 Change of title to ‘The British Association of Dental Nurses’

The Association changed its name on 1 November 1994 following a decision taken by delegates at the AGM earlier that year. Delegates also voted in favour of the title ‘Dental Nurse’, in place of ‘Dental Surgery Assistant’. The Journal title changed from ‘The British Dental Surgery Assistant’ to ‘The British Dental Nurses Journal®’. The Voluntary Register became ‘the Voluntary National Register of Dental Nurses’.

1995: The launch of the Training Advisory Service

In preparation for statutory registration and in response to the need to ensure high quality dental nurse training, the Training Advisory Service was formed and funded by the Association, with financial assistance from DNSTAB. TAS is now an independent body, with administrative support provided by the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses. It provides voluntary accreditation of dental nurse training courses.

1997 Headquarters move to Pharos Street

The Association moved into its own premises at 11 Pharos St, Fleetwood.

1998: The DARG Report

The Nuffield Report, led to the General Dental Council’s seminar for all interested parties and ultimately, to the formation of the of the Dental Auxiliaries Review Group (DARG). Dental nurses were represented by the then President, Pat Harle. The Dental Auxiliaries Review Group presented its Report to the G.D.C. on 11 May 1998. Members of BADN Council were present in the Public Gallery and joined other members of the Lancaster Group (an informal coalition between BADN and various technicians’ groups) to discuss the Report. The DARG Report suggested that all professionals complementary to dentistry (PCDs) should be statutorily registered with the General Dental Council and either be qualified or in recognised training.

1999 Statutory registration agreed in principle

All the appropriate bodies made their formal responses to the DARG proposals and these were duly perused by the General Dental Council. On 11 May 1999 the historic decision was taken – the G.D.C. agreed, in principle, to the statutory registration of all Professionals Complementary to Dentistry, including dental nurses.

2000+

2000 The Association celebrates its 60th Birthday

Celebrations were held at The Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate on 7 October 2000 to celebrate 60 years of the Association’s existence. Many Past-Presidents were able to attend the formal dinner, including Miss Roma Coultas, who was President of the Association in 1956. Tribute was paid to the determination, fortitude and dedication of the ladies of the past 60 years, without whom there would be no Jubilee and no Association.

2001 What next?

Following the decision to introduce Statutory Registration, the BADN® continued to represent dental nurses on the Steering Group set up by the General Dental Council to implement Registration. The Association had representatives on the Joint Consultative Committee, DNSTAB and its Registration Committee, the British Dental Health Foundation, the British Dental Editors’ Forum, the Lancaster Group, the Dental Services Support Advisory Group (DSSAG), the Training Advisory Service and Healthwork UK – to name but some of its activities.

2006 Registration with the GDC

The DCP Register opened in July 2006 with a two year “window” during which unqualified dental nurses and those with pre-94 qualifications could “grandparent” onto the Register. This window closed in 2008 and only dental nurses with an approved qualification may now register with the DCP. The first DCP CPD cycle began in 2008.

2009 Continuing to support Registered Dental Nurses – and student dental nurses

Now that dental nurses in the UK are registered with the GDC, BADN® continues to provide support both for Registered Dental Nurses and for student dental nurses. Full Members benefit from £1m professional indemnity insurance, which is built into the membership package, and up to 8 hours free verifiable CPD through the quarterly British Dental Nurses’ Journal®. The BADN® Benefits scheme, open to all members, offers discounts and special offers on a wide range of products and services for both professional and personal lives. The National Dental Nursing Conference, verifiable CPD and is open to both BADN® members and nonmembers.

BADN® continues to represent the UK’s dental nurses in discussions with the General Dental Council, the British Dental Association, the Department of Health, HM Customs and Excise, and all other relevant dental and non-dental organisations.