James George Steele CBE (28 June 1962 – 16 November 2017) was a British dentist. He authored the Steele Review in 2009 which proposed reforms to the dental services provided by the National Health Service.
Early life and education
editBorn in Fairmilehead, Edinburgh to George and Christelle Steele, Jimmy Steele attended Royal High School before studying dentistry at the University of Dundee. He had an older sister, Alison.[1][2]
Career
editUpon graduation in 1985, Steele began his career at the Glasgow Dental Hospital and School and the Perth Royal Infirmary.[3] In 1989, he joined the faculty of Newcastle University, teaching in the School of Dental Sciences.[2] In 2006, the Tony Blair government modified the NHS dentistry system, so that dentists were paid a rate based on a selection of pre-approved treatments. Three years later, the Steele Review proposed that dentists working in the NHS system be paid for by the number of patients seen, as well as quality of service.[4] The Steele Review further recommended that dentists focus on disease prevention, not solely treatment.[5] Steele was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2012 New Year Honours for his 2009 report.[6][7] In 2016, the British Dental Association awarded the John Tomes Medal to Steele.[8]
Personal life and death
editSteele married Katherine Bushby in 1987, with whom he had two children.[1][5] He was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2015,[4][9] and died at the age of 55 on 16 November 2017, in Newcastle upon Tyne.[1] He also was an amateur birdwatcher[1] and sat on the British Birds Rarities Committee.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Obituary: Jimmy Steele, professor of dentistry and oral health, lecturer, birdwatcher and conservationist". The Scotsman. 25 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ a b Steele, Tom (26 November 2017). "Jimmy Steele obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ "Obituary - Jimmy Steele, dental health expert". The Herald. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Jimmy Steele, dental health expert – obituary". The Telegraph. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Professor Jimmy Steele". The Times. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "Tributes paid to world-leading dental expert". Newcastle University. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ Evans, Seb (17 November 2017). "Author of the Steele Review, Professor Jimmy Steele CBE, passes away". dentistry.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ "Dental expert receives top award for his exceptional work". Newcastle University. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ Stickings, Tim (20 November 2017). "Tributes to Newcastle professor who 'changed the way dental services are provided in the UK'". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ "Obituary: Professor Jimmy Steele". British Society for Oral and Dental Research. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.