Sheffield-based dentist James Lafferty has been elected to the General Dental Council (GDC), following a by-election for the constituency of England, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.  He fills the seat previously held by Andrew Keetley, who resigned from Council earlier this year.

James Lafferty (known as Jim) will serve on Council until 9 April 2008, when its current five-year term comes to an end.  Jim previously served as a Council member (2001-03); he also has experience as Chairman of Sheffield Local Dental Committee, and on GDC and British Dental Association committees.

Welcoming Jim Lafferty onto the Council, President of the GDC, Hew Mathewson said:

“My congratulations to Jim Lafferty on his election to the GDC.  With the recent opening of the dental care professionals register and the changes to the Council’s fitness to practise procedures, this is an exciting time to be a Council member - to be part of the team introducing these significant changes to the way the dental profession is regulated.

“I would like to thank the other 12 candidates who stood for election and were prepared to dedicate their time and energy to the GDC, and the electorate who played their important part in this process”.

Commenting on his election Jim Lafferty said:

“I am very pleased and excited to be returning to the GDC at a time of such significant changes in the regulation of the whole dental team.  I am looking forward to working with the other members of Council, some of whom I have yet to meet, and particularly the greatly increased number of lay members, whose external perspective is so valuable to Council.  Many thanks to all those who voted for me.”

Ends

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Notes to editors:

1. A photograph of Jim Lafferty is available on request

2. Biography for Jim Lafferty

Jim Lafferty is a 36 year old dentist, a partner in a Sheffield dental surgery, having graduated from Birmingham University in 1993.  He is currently the Chairman of Sheffield Local Dental Committee and the British Dental Association South Yorkshire Branch Council.  Jim represents local dentists on the British Dental Association’s Representative Body and General Dental Practitioners Committee (GDPC).  He was until recently the Chairman of the British Dental Association Young Dentists Committee.  Jim is a local adviser to Dental Protection Limited.

3. 22.6 per cent of the electorate (dentists with a registered address in England, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands) voted.  The voting report and results sheet are available on this website.

4. The Council has 29 members:

• 15 dentists (elected by other dentists)
• 4 dental hygienists and therapists (elected by other hygienists and therapists)
• 10 members of the public (appointed by the Queen)

The four Chief Dental Officers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are associate members, which means they do not have voting rights.

Of the 15 dentist members of Council:

• 11 are elected from the constituency of England, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands
• 2 are elected from the constituency of Scotland
• 1 is elected from the constituency of Wales
• 1 is elected from the constituency of Northern Ireland

5. Due to the forthcoming opening of the DCP register the Council have set up a constitution review working group to look at the composition of the Council.