Thank you everyone for your continued support- the comments in particular have not made for easy reading, but have also served to confirm that this course of action is required.
Copies of the comments and a list of signatures have been sent to the DCNZ and MoH with the following cover letter (thank you to In Kyung Lee of Christchurch):
Reform of the Dental Council of New Zealand
I would like to draw your attention to, and request a response regarding the online petition concerning the Dental Council of New Zealand (DCNZ) and its failings of late both leading up to and during the current pandemic, and prior to this year.
The oral health of the people of New Zealand has suffered as a direct result of poor governance and guidance.
Over 2500 people signed this petition within 48 hours of it being created to date, the majority of whom are registered oral health practitioners.
I have also been contacted personally by many registered oral health practitioners who are reluctant to sign the petition for fear of repercussions.
Please find attached PDF files of the list of signatories and also a PDF file of the many highly relevant and quite frankly concerning comments, one of the most pertinent being the following:
“It’s a shame that a professional body representing a sector of healthcare is so ineffective that its own members have to initiate this process”.
Kind Regards,
Dr Sarah Bronte
Dental Surgeon
BDS (Otago) 2000, MFDS (RCS Eng) 2006