Dr Rachael Nichol has outlined an ambitious vision for her presidential year after succeeding Dr Oosh Devalia OBE as President of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) at the Society’s National Study Day in York last month.
As Dr Rachael Nichol prepares for her Presidential Lecture Tour, she reflected on the purpose of her year ahead at the helm, “My presidential lecture tour will focus on a simple but important question: do we really know where children can access specialist dental care when they need it? By engaging with colleagues across the UK, I hope to build a clearer picture of our workforce, champion the vital role of Community Dental Services and help develop practical solutions that reduce inequalities and improve care for children.”
Drawing on her lifelong commitment to paediatric dentistry and extensive experience within the Community Dental Service (CDS), Dr Nichol will focus her presidential year on three key priorities: strengthening the paediatric dentistry workforce, championing the role of the Community Dental Service, and embedding oral health within neighbourhood health services.
Dr Rachael Nichol, whose passion for paediatric dentistry began as an undergraduate, said: “While most of my fellow students didn’t look forward to their time on the paediatric clinic, I loved it. The opportunity to make a positive difference to a child and their family has motivated me throughout my career and continues to inspire my vision for BSPD.”
Her connection with the Community Dental Service has been a defining feature of her career. In 2003, she undertook what was then the first paediatric dentistry specialty training post which was split between a Community Dental Service and a dental hospital, gaining experience across the full spectrum of children’s dental care.
Dr Rachael Nichol said: “The Community Dental Service shaped me as a clinician and specialist. It remains one of the most rewarding environments in which to care for children and train future specialists. I want to ensure its expertise and contribution are recognised, valued and strengthened.”
A focus of Dr Rachael Nichol’s presidential year will be addressing inequalities in access to paediatric dental care across the UK. BSPD is currently undertaking a UK-wide mapping exercise of Level 1b, Level 2 and Level 3 paediatric dentistry services to identify gaps in provision and explore practical solutions to improve access for children and families.
Dr Rachael Nichol believes greater clarity is needed around accountability for implementing recommendations from the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, restoring general anaesthetic capacity, reducing waiting times and ensuring children receive timely care.
Dr Rachael Nichol said: “BSPD can play an important role in bringing together stakeholders, sharing examples of best practice and helping to develop practical solutions that improve access and outcomes for children,”
The third pillar of Dr Rachael Nichol’s presidency is neighbourhood health. She believes children’s oral health must be embedded within wider local health systems and prevention strategies rather than delivered in isolation. Aligning services with the NHS Core20PLUS5 CYP approach will be central to this work, helping to reduce health inequalities and target support towards those children with the greatest need.
Initiatives such as Mini Mouth Care Matters, enhanced oral health training for health visitors and clearer referral pathways into appropriately commissioned paediatric dentistry services all have an important role to play in delivering care closer to home.
Summarising her ambitions for the year ahead, Dr Rachael Nichol said: “My vision is for BSPD to be a strong voice for children, championing a workforce that is skilled, supported and sustainable; a Community Dental Service that is recognised for its expertise and value; and a healthcare system where oral health is embedded within neighbourhood care and prevention strategies.”
