The British Dental Action Group (BDAG) was set up in the spring of 2020 and is open to all dental colleagues working in the NHS – Dental associates, Hygienist, Therapists, dental nurses, and receptionists.
It has grown into an Action Group from a Facebook page with over 3,000 dental colleagues who have expressed concerns about the way some practice owners have dealt with the employment contracts and the pay of their staff since lockdown on 23rd March 2020. Many practice owners were sidestepping their obligations to continue to employ and pay their staff at the pre-COVID 19 arrangements, despite receiving their monthly guaranteed NHS practice payments.
Dr Shazia Ahmed
Dr Shazia Ahmed, is a Dental Associate in the NHS. She was awarded her BDS degree at the University of Birmingham in 2002, post graduation she has been actively involved in dentistry in the NHS and is committed both personally and professionally to support dental care colleagues in their work. She has mentored many colleagues who have welcomed her input and support.
Before the first COVID-19 lock down in March 2020, when dental practices were asked to shut down, Shazia shared her work time at two practices in the West Midlands.
The Pandemic led her to a number of colleagues around the country facing enforced variances of contracts and being unpaid during lockdown. Having received numerous calls from many colleagues Dr Shazia appreciated that these issues were not isolated to individuals or regions, she realised that they were receiving no support or guidance from the recognised bodies. Dr Shazia felt these colleagues would be supported by a nationally coordinated and collaborative effort and in order to galvanise this effort set up a Facebook support group in May 2020 – with nearly 3,000 dental colleagues joining within weeks. Many dental colleagues from all over the country were able to reveal dental practice owners were not forwarding tax payers funds allocated to ensure no dental professionals suffered adversely as a consequence of the lock down, in the worst case some even had contracts terminated. Hundreds were facing terrible financial hardship, and getting nowhere with practice owners.
Dr Shazia now leads the British Dental Action Group (BDAG) which is successfully campaigning for action and continues to raise concerns with the Chief Dental Officer and the CDO’s team, and also the British Dental Association (BDA) about how practice owners have managed their NHS funding and their employment relationships with associates and other dental care professionals. One of Dr Shazias successes has been the introduction of variance reporting directly on the COMPASS system.