NHS England names new chief dental officer

NHS England has announced the appointment of Sara Hurley as its new chief dental officer.

Ms Hurley will serve as principal dental adviser and the professional head of dental staff in England, as well as acting as a senior member of the medical directorate.

She will work in partnership with other directorates, domain leads and clinical leaders in regional and local area teams to improve outcomes for patients, while championing the role of dentists and dentistry within the health system.

A University of Bristol Dental School graduate, the new chief dental officer joins NHS England from the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine. Her past experience includes roles in dental public health, wider healthcare policy and healthcare commissioning.

Ms Hurley said: "I am determined to use this position to articulate the dental health needs of our patients and, working collaboratively across the breadth of the dental healthcare profession, present directly to ministers and NHS leaders our fresh ideas."

The British Dental Association has welcomed the new appointment, while stating its intention to try and foster an effective working relationship with Ms Hurley.