Eddie Crouch has been elected as the new chair of the British Dental Association (BDA) Principal Executive Committee (PEC). Vice chair of the PEC since 2014, he served as secretary of the Birmingham Local Dental Committee for more than 10 years, and he is now its chair.
Previously, Crouch chaired the Annual Conference of LDCs, served as president of the Central Counties Branch, and served on the General Dental Practice Committee for more than a decade. Until recently, he also chaired the West Midlands Association of LDCs.
Crouch qualified at King’s College London Faculty of Dentistry, Oral, and Craniofacial Sciences in 1984 and currently provides orthodontic care for patients in South Birmingham. In 2007, he successfully challenged a termination clause in personal dental services agreements in the High Court.
“I take office at a time when dental services that millions depend on are under threat and as we struggle to recover and restore care. There is now, however, a real opportunity to break from failed systems that were already creaking before COVID-19,” he said.
“The BDA rose to the challenge at lockdown, refocusing all its efforts in the face of a unique threat. That work is far from over, but it illustrates how we must move forward: mobilizing to meet challenges head on,” Crouch said.
“We have seen what the world looks like without dental care. It’s our responsibility to build on this, to shine a light on the vital services our members provide, and the barriers they face. Colleagues facing real financial risks need ongoing help. For patients, it’s essential that services are supported and improved,” he said.
“My responsibility is to listen and to lead. I intend to work with staff and representatives from across the profession in all four nations to set a direction that improves on the benefits our members enjoy, secures the future of the organization, and builds its influence,” he said.
“And now, more than ever, it means providing an association that colleagues want to be part of,” Crouch said.
Peter Crooks has been elected the new deputy chair, with Shareena Ilyas to serve as chair of the Education, Ethics and the Dental Team Working Group.
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