Stuart has been a dentist since 2001, working primarily in private practice with a small NHS list. He’s been an active member of the Local Dental Committee (LDC) for the last 14 years, playing a vital role in representing his colleagues in primary dental care. His responsibility has been around communications and engagement with practitioners, and liaison with commissioners and local professional networks. Since ICBs began operating, he’s moved towards an LDC strategy role and is a regional representative on the British Dental Association (BDA) / LDC regional liaison group. 

Since 2006, he has been instrumental in the delivery and development of the Dental Practitioner Advice and Support Scheme (DPASS). Originally serving Lancashire and South Cumbria, he has been part of the team that has unified the scheme across North West England, including Greater Manchester and is currently working towards national adoption of this vital support system. Stuart has presented about DPASS at a number of meetings, including the National Association of Dental Advisers Conference, demonstrating his firm commitment to enhancing the welfare of dental practitioners nationwide and supporting a more positive regulatory culture within dentistry. 

Stuart has previously served as a registered Freedom to Speak Up Guardian and participated in a number of meetings around the scheme’s implementation in primary care. Due to concerns about the scheme’s ineffectiveness in protecting whistleblowers, and its potential to create professional jeopardy for those speaking up, he stepped down from the role in late 2023. He has since supported the BDA in providing evidence to the Health Select Committee inquiry on NHS Leadership, performance, and patient safety. 

Along with clinical practice, Stuart’s professional interests lie at the complex intersection of regulation, compliance, professional responsibility, speaking up, and patient safety. With a strong background in practitioner support and wellbeing, he continues to advocate for improvements in the regulation, support and wellbeing of the dental profession.