Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen re-elected chair of GDPC

The Committee represents and promotes the interests of dentists in all types of general practice, and works to improve communication between them, enabling coherent policies to be developed and promoted on behalf of the profession.

Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen is a GDP based in Fulham, Greater London. He started an NHS practice in 1999 and since then it has treated over 100,000 NHS patients.

Dave Cottam, from Birmingham, has been re-elected to serve as the Committee’s vice chair alongside newly elected Shawn Charlwood from Lincolnshire. Shawn has practised as a GDP in Lincoln for the last 25 years and has been a member of GDPC for nine years. Since 2015 Shawn has sat on the Executive Committee of GDPC.

New members of the Executive are Shiv Pabary and Leah Farrell, with Nick Stolls and Nilesh Patel both re-elected.

Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen said, “I am honoured to have been re-elected as chair of GDPC.

“This profession continues to face huge challenges. In England and Wales colleagues continue to work under the cosh of a contract that stifles prevention. Across the UK hard working dentists face a toxic mix of underfunding and overregulation, with terms and conditions under constant attack.

“Official indifference can hurt both this profession and our patients. I have made it my business to ensure that the voice of GDPs is heard by government and in the media, and we will continue to ensure they appreciate the necessity to pick up the pace on reform.”