Author Archives: Alun Rees

“Dentistry is Tough”

You know you’re being taken seriously when the incoming BDA President checks your name and writing in their address. “An opinion piece was recently published in BDJ In Practice by Dr Alun Rees, ‘Is Dentistry making us sick?’ It starts with the statement, ‘Dentistry is tough’. I don’t think any of us would argue withContinue reading ““Dentistry is Tough””

What do patients really think?

From The Conversation. Gavin Brookes and Paul Baker were “tasked” with looking at patients’ opinions. An analysis of a total of 228,000 comments from the NHS Choices website, coming in at a huge 29m words. Their results have been published in the BMJ and as a book. They spent three years on the project and ProfContinue reading “What do patients really think?”

Clinical freedom in a time of austerity.

First published online in Dentistry Blog on 8th April 2019. Full article. Clinical freedom is becoming an aspiration rather than reality. I regularly have to straddle a line between what principals need and what associates want, whilst attempting to keep both sides happy. Often this involves money and the phrase ‘clinical freedom’. Amongst the thingsContinue reading “Clinical freedom in a time of austerity.”

“One third gone and what have you done?”

The Incisal Edge Newsletter for May 1st. “Strike another match, start anew.” (Bob Dylan) April 30th was our financial year end for nearly two decades and I still have a feeling that I must end something and, more important, start something around that date. Whilst tidying, reading and binning yesterday I came across these lines.Continue reading ““One third gone and what have you done?””

A view on the 737 Max disaster..

A beautifully clear piece of “technical” writing. (Via John Naughton) Design shortcuts meant to make a new plane seem like an old, familiar one are to blame. “….The 737 Max saga teaches us not only about the limits of technology and the risks of complexity, it teaches us about our real priorities. Today, safety doesn’tContinue reading “A view on the 737 Max disaster..”