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Leicester dental academy plan is put on hold

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Plans to launch a dental academy in Leicester have been shelved.

The Leicester Dental Teaching Academy (LDTA) had been due to open in September, based at the city's Phoenix cinema, but the project has now been put on hold until further notice.

The University of Buckingham, which has accredited the £176,000 five-year course, told the Leicester Mercury it had taken the decision not to start teaching students in September following discussions with the General Dental Council, which would have to sanction the course.

In a statement, the university said: "The University of Buckingham is careful to ensure the highest standards for all its degree courses and to insist that all necessary procedures have been followed before the launch of a new programme. As a result, and after negotiations with the General Dental Council (GDC), which sets the standards for new dental schools, we have decided regrettably that we are unable to start the dentistry programme in September.

"We are continuing discussions about the timing of the launch."

The university did not want to comment further.

It remains unclear how many students had signed up for the course before it was put on hold. However, its deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Alistair Alcock, said: "We deeply regret this delay and the uncertainty this is causing the students.

"We are making every effort to help them to find alternative courses."

The dental academy's registrar, Atul Patel, did not want to comment and advised the Mercury to contact the university.

Had the course begun in September, students would have been taught in a Phoenix cinema auditorium when it was not in use showing films. They would have trained on model heads.

The arrangement would be lucrative for the publicly-funded Phoenix.

Confidential minutes of Phoenix board meetings, previously leaked to the Mercury, showed the venue was set to be paid £500,000 over the first five years by LDTA for hiring the venue.

In the long-term, LDTA's plans include building a £6 million dental school and clinic next to the Phoenix, although planning permission has not yet been sought.

Phoenix chief executive John Rance told the Mercury: "This is an interesting business opportunity for Phoenix, but it is important for everyone to know we had not factored it into our budgeting or financial planning. I feel fairly neutral about it. It's part and parcel of discussing opportunities with people."

As previously reported by the Mercury, the proposal by the Phoenix to host the academy had caused division among board members

De Montfort University's (DMU) two representatives resigned after raising concerns about the scheme.

DMU provided £750,000 towards the £21.5 million cost of the Phoenix building when it opened in 2009.

It said it would keep paying the £20,000 a year it gives to the Phoenix as part of its partnership deal.

The Mercury attempted to contact the General Dental Council for a comment, but nobody was available.

Leicester dental academy plan is put on hold


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