Julie MacFarlane

Associate Director for Conduct and Performance

Julie qualified from University of Birmingham in 1984 moving straight into a hospital post in Oral Surgery and Orthodontics. In 1986, to accommodate her growing family, she started working in general dental practice, and the community service, in and around Fareham in Hampshire.

A move back to her Lancashire roots saw her set up an NHS practice in Whalley, near Clitheroe, becoming a Vocational Trainer in 1993 after completing her DGDP(UK) qualification through examination. She still continues to work in this practice today.

From the start of the Whalley practice, in 1991, Julie became actively involved in the Local Dental Committee, holding the honorary position of Treasurer and, later, Secretary during the 18 years of her service. The start of her work as Clinical Lead in Dental Appraisal, for the East Lancs and Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust’s, created a conflict of interest as a paid employee and saw her withdraw from the LDC in 2009.

In the late 1990’s, following extensive work on independent review panels for out of area patient complaints, Julie became involved in work with the NHS Parliamentary Ombudsman for complaints resolution. This led to her appointment as a member of the GDC Fitness to Practice Panel in 2003. She has chaired this panel since 2005 and will complete her 10 year tenure early in 2014.

Julie completed her Advanced Certificate in Health Education in 2008 as part of her development of Dental Appraisal in Primary Care. She has a wealth of experience in Professional and Ethical practice and is able to offer this experience to members of the Profession seeking assistance in addressing their professional concerns.