Is the kingdom united?

Specialist accountants and lawyers at the NASDAL meeting in Stafford agreed that dentists in England face the most difficulties and could quite reasonably claim to be disadvantaged by a greater burden of regulation and inconsistent decisions by area teams.

For instance, the Care Quality Commission only exists in England and seeks to register every individual in a practice. Every time a dentist changes where they work, there must be a re-registration. By contrast, the Health Inspectorate Wales, which was established earlier, accepts all dentists who are on their approved performers list and does not require a dentist to re-register if they change address.

Anthony Mayled is a chartered accountant with Staffer Mayled and Co based in Cardiff and says his local clients enjoy an easier life compared to those in England. Among his English clients are four practices in the same area who all wanted to incorporate. Two were allowed to incorporate and the others had been refused permission.