I have worked for over 20 years in general dental practice. In that time, a great deal of knowledge and experience was gained by encountering the vast majority of situations dentists will meet working in this discipline. In addition to this, I have experience as a Dental Practice Inspector with NHS Forth Valley,

For a number of years now, I have also been working as an expert witness.

Since qualification in 1996, I have worked very hard to ensure that my clinical practice has been patient centered with the patients’ needs, well-being and comfort put far and away above any other consideration. I believe that is why I enjoyed a successful, busy, enduring practice with a loyal patient base.

As practice principal for over 12 years, my philosophy and approach to leading the practice was always effective communication and empathy. In December 2014, my practice was awarded Gold Membership after 10 years on the scheme.

In July 2014, I was appointed as a clinical expert to the General Dental Council Fitness to Practice team. Reports are produced which help the GDC decided whether the information referred to the Fitness to Practice team amounts to an allegation that the registrant’s fitness to practice may be impaired.  

As I expand this work, I have now worked with dental defence organisations and medical negligence solicitors as an independent dental expert witness. I am currently on the list of approved experts for Dental Protection and the Dental Defence Union.

My perception is that many problems I see colleagues encountering could have been avoided. Given the stress a legal action or GDC investigation can bring, I feel that I am in a unique position to help others. After all,we all face the same problems and threats.

Due to my extensive and diverse experience, including that of Dental Practice Inspector for NHS Forth Valley, I am very familiar with the requirements of a modern dental professional both in their clinical and communication skills. I am therefore also very familiar with the FGDP(UK), GDC, SDCEP, SIGN, NICE and IR(ME)R publications and guidelines.

To that end, I now provide a comprehensive compliance service for Scottish dental practices called RP4 Scotland. I am the lead advisor and am passionate about using this experience to help our colleagues to work within a team dedicated to providing the highest possible standards of health care

As a mentor, I have been involved in mentoring and supervision of a number of colleagues for various reasons e.g. loss of confidence, GDC conditions, supporting those coming ‘back to work’ and overseas dentists wishing to work here. I currently provide clinical mentoring of younger colleagues within the Clyde Munro Dental Group.

Most recently, I have been appointed as an expert adviser to the National Institute of Health & Care Excellence (NICE) Centre for Guidelines, an examiner for parts 1 and 2 of the MFDS RCPS Glasgow and as a clinical lecturer at the Aberdeen Institute of Dentistry.

As a result of my years of experience, I believe that communication is fundamental to all aspects of life, able help colleagues use this skill in many different aspects of working life; staff management, patients complaint management and avoidance, complex treatment planning and professional relationships whilst still maintaining an affable and human perspective.
Currently, I am working towards submission to be considered for the FFGDP(UK) and have started a law master’s degree (LLM) in Medical Law and Ethics