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  2. About us
  3. Our structure
  4. Representative committees
  5. Community and public dental services
  6. Northern Ireland Community Dentists Committee

The Committee is recognised by the Government as having the status and authority to negotiate on behalf of the dental profession on matters of terms and conditions of service and remuneration.​ NICDC provide the link between the BDA's membership and the policy decisions taken on their behalf.

Our priorities

  • Sharing and representing the views of community dentists
  • Acting as a channel of communication between the BDA and community dentists
  • Lobbying stakeholders on behalf of community dentists
  • Negotiating on behalf of the CDS regarding terms and conditions and workforce issues
  • Working to improve oral health in core CDS patient groups and wider society.

Our team

Chair Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Ann McAreavey

Ann is elected on behalf of Community and Salaried Dentists in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust. Ann qualified as a Dentist from Dundee University in 1999, working in Carnoustie before coming home to Northern Ireland to work in General Practice in Co. Armagh for 10 years. She began working with in the SHSCT Community Dental Service in 2011 as a Dental Officer before progressing to the post of Senior Dental Officer in 2021. She is looking forward to engaging with staff employed in Community Dentistry to ensure their voice is heard as part of discussions on the future delivery of services.
Ann Mcareavey
Vice Chair Pan-NI Clinical Director

John Finnerty

John is elected on behalf of the NI Clinical Directors. Qualified from QUB 1984, John worked for several years in General Dental Practice in West Belfast and Omagh. He moved to Community Dental Service in Down & Lisburn in 1987. John has maintained locum sessions in General Dental Practice, Hospital Dental Practice and the Prison Dental Service. He attained a Master Medical Science in Restorative Dentistry in 1992. He has been a member of the BDA since 1982 and has previously represented NI on the Salaried Services Committee’s and Central Dental Services BDA Committee, the BDA Young Dentists Committee and NIDPC.

Members

Sinead Preston - Northern Health and Social Care Trust

Meabh McKeown - Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Kathryn Boyce - Western Health and Social Care Trust

Kelly Kerr - South-Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

Get involved and get in touch

The members of NICDC are elected representatives and hold their positions for a three-year period. They represent the views of community and salaried dental practitioners. The current NICDC will sit from 2022-2024, as agreed by the BDA PEC. The NICDC ensures that the views of community dentists are represented when it comes to health policy being developed by government. There are currently several voting and non-voting positions vacant, for more information the NICDC can be contacted via email: northernIrelandoffice@bda.org.

Developing your skills

Have a look at our range of advice videos, including experiences from different careers and fields of dentistry, and tips for furthering your career.