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M. Jean Smith MBE  

 

10th June 1923 – 20th April 2012

 

A long career dedicated to the Dental Nursing profession

 

 

Following the Second World War there was great difficulty in recruiting suitable dental chairside staff (now known as Dental Nurses).  There was no formal training available, pay was poor and the term `Attendant’ often deterred suitable applicants from entering the work.

 

The Dental Nurses and Assistants Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, established in 1940, sought to influence and act to secure proper training and pay for their members and protect the character and status of Dental Nurses. It was in this environment that the young Jean Smith found herself, and where she devoted herself tirelessly for almost 40 years.  

 

 Jean was born in Warrington until they moved to Thornton-Cleveleys where Jean  spent the rest of her life.  After a high school education followed by a book keeping and secretarial course, Jean started work as a dental nurse in a general dental practice.  Soon after this she joined the Dental Nurses and Assistants Society which was based in Leyland, Lancashire.

 

 Although the National Examining Board had instituted its first qualifying certificate in 1943, there were no textbooks or training notes to help candidates. Jean prepared for the examination with six colleagues from Manchester who got together weekly to study the syllabus.  Jean passed the National Examination in 1945 at the Leeds centre. At that time the Panel of Examiners consisted of six dentists (this number has increased to 400+ examiners in 2012).

 

In 1948 Jean replied to an advertisement for a Secretary to the Dental Nurses and Assistants Society.  The Society urgently needed a new Secretary (starting wage £5 per week) and the advertisement stated that, unless someone came forward at once, the Society would cease to function. Fortunately for us Jean Smith was appointed and this was not to be the only time she saved the day!   Jean travelled the 25 miles round trip from Thornton to Leyland each day until 1963, when the Society became the Association, was registered as a Limited Company and moved to better accommodation in Poulton-le-Fylde.  In order to help with the additional expense, Jean agreed to reduce her salary as she no longer had to pay the travelling costs to Leyland.  Jean had by this time also taken on the additional role of Secretary to the Examining Board.

 

From the early days Jean made a huge commitment to her work meeting with representatives from Dental Hospitals and other training providers to encourage them to set up full time and part time training.   Jean succeeded in increasing the number of courses, candidates and examiners and she travelled extensively, ensuring that the professional status of Dental Nurses was promoted.  She became widely recognised as the figurehead of the profession.

 

A big step was made in January 1954 when the British Dental Association and the British Dental Nurses Association agreed to form a Joint Committee.  The purpose was to inquire into all matters of common concern and to make recommendations to their respective Associations.  Recommendations on pay and conditions for Dental Nurses in General Dental Practice were issued in an advice sheet and in 1964 a National Voluntary Register was established.  Jean Smith administered the Register and became the first Registrar.  The registration fee was one pound and by 1966 only those holding a recognised qualification were admitted to the register.  Even though it was mainly downs to Jean’s influence that the register was introduced and maintained she never sought praise for herself. 

 

Succeeding years were occupied with ever increasing workloads and emerging issues of fluoridation, dental health education and post qualification courses.  It became clear that there was a need to look at creating an improved career structure for Dental Nurses within the dental team; this was pursued with the BDA and representatives from Area Health Authorities and the Department of Health.

 

 

 

The Association and Examining Board made considerable progress with the support of their members and the guidance and intelligent approach which Jean Smith exerted on their behalf.  Jean’s style was always calm and considered.  She was able to read a situation and make timely judgements for the benefit of the profession – it is through Jean’s considerable contribution that we now call ourselves a profession. This service to dentistry was recognised in 1975 when Jean was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

 

In 1978 the Association was officially entered on the records as a Trade Union.  Pay negotiations continued with the BDA and through the Whitley Council. In 1983 a campaign was launched and MPs approached to support a fair wages resolution. Jean prepared the submission made to the Nuffield Foundations research into the Training and Future Role of Dental Nurses. Also in 1978 a significant change was made by the Examining Board, who agreed to the case put forward by the Association to include Dental Nurses as examiners.

 

Jean was determined to get proper recognition for Dental Nurses and in 1980 approaches were made to the General Dental Council (GDC) to set up a group of stakeholders to standardise their training and education. The Dental Nurse Standards and Training Advisory Board was set up in 1981 and the National Voluntary Register was taken under the auspices of the GDC.  A report was prepared and published in 1984 outlining, for the first time, the role and training objectives for Dental Nurses and it is widely acknowledged that much of the work in developing this document was undertaken by Jean and three other dental nurse representatives. 

 

Jean Smith retired from the Association on 31st December 1985 but continued to work for the Examining Board which by now had become a separate organisation. 

 

Jean continued her work in the development of Occupational Standards and was involved in the development of continuing education courses in Conscious Sedation and Oral Health Education.  Her signature will be recognised by thousands of Dental Nurses who received her letter telling them whether they had passed or failed their examination.  Whichever the case, Jean was always willing to talk to them, advising and encouraging them in their careers.

 

Throughout her working life Jean supported numerous Presidents of the Association and Chairmen of the Examining Board, giving them wise counsel through difficult times – a role model for many.  She was responsible for planning and undertaking the running of numerous Annual Conferences and Annual General Meetings, always to a highly impressive professional standard. 

 

Jean retired from her official duties with the Examining Board in December 1991 after over 40 years of dedicated service, although she continued to help with some of the accounts and the piloting of the National Vocational Qualification in Dental Nursing.  

 

Jean Smiths impact on the Dental Nursing Profession is without equal.  In her later life she was able to spend more time with her family and friends and enjoyed her hobbies including gardening and bird watching often with her friend Mac. 

 

Jean leaves a daughter Jennifer, grandchildren Diane and Joel and great granddaughters Natalie, Hannah, Isobel and Alexandra.

 

Diana Wincott MBE

 

9th May 2012                                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIPLOMA IN DENTAL NURSING

 

Students sitting the May 2012 examination can download a copy of the NEBDN National Diploma in Dental Nursing examination guidance by clicking here. This contains information on the format of the examination (both written and OSCE sections) and sample questions.

 

 

TRUSTEES REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2011

 

To view the Trustees Report and Accounts for 2011 please click here

 

 

WE NEED EXAMINERS!

 

If you are interested in becoming an examiner Please download the criteria for the appointment of examiners please click here!

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