Salford LDC recently held a ball for all the dental professionals in the area.
To kick-start the annual ball fund, the LDC put £10,000 towards the festivities to attract as many dental practices as possible.
Sponsorship came from True Bearing, Natwest, Wesleyan MSS and Sky Dental.
The ball gave an opportunity for dentists to speak with other practice and commissioners and build relationships.
Guest speaker was Professor Nick Grey who was awarded a lifetime achievement award.
The LDC felt that it was important to reward the outstanding members of the profession for all of their continued investment in the development of dentistry within the Salford area.
The awards ceremony included:
• Dentist of the year – Ash Rayeral of Ash dental practice)
• PCT member of staff of the year – Lindsey Bowes
• Team member of the year – Shirley Hardman of Crown Dental Practice
• DCP of the year – Clare Dougherty of Simon Taylor Dental Practice
• Practice of the year – Revive Dental Care
Finns fund
All the dental practices donated raffle and auction prize in aid of Finns fund – one of the local dentist’s children was diagnosed with a rhabidomyosarcoma and raised £3,000-plus for the charity.
The prizes donated ranged from an iPad 2 (Windsor Dental Practice), a golf day (The Height Dental Practice), and multiple fooball shirts all signed and framed with one lucky winner scooping a holiday to Cyprus (donated by money4dentists).
Oragniser Ben Atkins said: ‘I was touched by the involvement with all the teams getting prizes and really joining in, the Hope Dental practice visited lots of local retailers to get prizes from Salford red tickets to a cake from a local confectioners.
‘The frivolity was enjoyable and lasted until the early hours, with entertainment from a tribute act who went down a storm ending with dancing until the early hours.’
Lindsey Bowes, head of GMS/PMS & Oral Health Commissioning, said: ‘I am sure we are one of very few PCTs who have the relationship with our dental colleagues and LDC that enables us to celebrate each others successes.’
