CED REPORT
Workforce challenges in post-Covid Europe The CED held its first in-person General Meeting in Porto in May.
The recent Council of European Dentists (CED) General Meeting in Porto was the first in two years, and was a welcome return to in-person discussions between the dental associations of Europe. As part of CED internal affairs, delegates adopted the CED Final Accounts for 2021 and the CED Budget for 2023. The Statutes were amended to limit the time served as Treasurer to three years for two consecutive terms, and the maximum term on the Board was set at four mandates of three years. In his opening address, CED President Dr Freddie Sloth Lisbjerg mentioned a wide range of topics common to all countries, including: n issues of substitution and delegation within dental teams; n the changing roles of partnerships, groups and corporate models;
Dr Nuala Carney Dr Kieran O’Connor
n young staff, workforce challenges; and, n ever-evolving equipment as dentistry continues to develop in the digital age. There was a statement of solidarity regarding dentists from Ukraine, noting the shortage of medicines there and the challenges raised by considering allowing access to registration across the EU, while continuing to maintain the requirements of dental education and qualifications. All countries are suffering the impact of the crisis in Ukraine, with increased inflation, destabilisation and rising energy costs. There is no doubt that these things will impact on dental practices, many of which have only just regained momentum after the Covid-19 crisis. Support for CED members in recent months has included: surveys among member states on VAT issues (Irish Dental Association); dental specialties (Germany); interviews for media (Spain and UK); and, correspondence with the Lithuanian authorities.
New policy statements
IDA CED Representatives
In addition to updates on the work of CED Working Groups and Task Forces, the General Meeting adopted two policy statements: ‘e-skills for dentists’ and ‘Dentistry and patient safety during the ongoing Covid-19 era’. The CED statement ‘e-skills for dentists’ focuses on the digital transition in
Journal of the Irish Dental Association | June/July 2022: Vol 68 (3) 127
