Streamlined but stong

Streamlined but strong

Darryl Moore looks back at the BDIA Midwinter Lunch.

After a di cult year of lockdowns and social distancing, physical meetings, networking events and pre-Christmas work activities in any shape or form looked uncertain for all of us. However,

Darryl Moore is the marketing and communications manager at the BDIA. thanks to evolving guidance December 8, saw BDIA members gather for the ever popular BDIA Midwinter Meeting – which had a new look. There was a fantastic turnout from BDIA member companies, with everyone eager to attend this traditional and enjoyable event.

It was not a return to the old, full-day format of the past, but rather a more intimate and focused Midwinter Lunch. Rather than having speakers present in the morning, the event began at noon, at the congenial East India Club, London, a pleasant establishment situated in St James’s Square. Members gathered for a pre-lunch drinks reception where familiar faces smiled and greeted one another in the reception area. It was certainly clear to see that members had missed these kinds of events and were very glad to see the return of the Midwinter event once again. BDIA chief executive, Edmund Pro tt, was delighted to host the meeting and welcomed members back to the first Midwinter event since 2019. He

explained that the new look Midwinter Lunch kept the core and much valued features that members wanted, such as a guest speaker, networking, socialising and valued industry information, whilst embracing a new venue and streamlined proceedings. The event featured special guest speaker Sara Hurley, chief dental o cer for England, who gave members a candid and insightful pre-lunch update as she addressed the industry face to face for the first time in nearly two years. Sara took guests through the challenges, trials and tribulation of her covid experience to date and the significant work put in to developing and updating the dental standard operating procedures, as well as the continuing moves towards tackling patient backlogs and urgent treatment needs, and the future of dental activity levels and contract reform. A lively and informative Q&A session followed, allowing members an open opportunity to ask questions and receive answers on a wide range of key topics. Shortly after the speeches and a Q&A session, attendees tucked into some traditional Christmas fayre while they conversed with industry colleagues and networked over lunch. After the meal, attendees were invited for a drink in the venue’s American bar. confirmed for the 2022 Midwinter Lunch as Thursday December 15, at the East India Club, St James’s Square, London. Details of the event will be communicated to members in the coming months. For more information regarding BDIA events email me at: darrylmoore@ bdia.org.uk