Big smiles as University of Portsmouth Dental Academy picks up award

The University of Portsmouth Dental Academy was handed the award for Dental Practice of the Year, sponsored by NatWest at the glamorous ceremony at Portsmouth Guildhall.

The Academy’s interim clinical director Latha Davda picked up the award.

After a graceful speech upon the award’s collection, she told The News: ‘I’m feeling great right now after picking up this award.

‘We didn’t expect to be walking away tonight with this lovely award but to be holding it now feels perfect.

‘All the staff and students are all just fantastic to work with and create such a great working environment.

‘It means a great deal for us to be collecting this award but it really is down to a team effort.

‘The work we do is the way it is because of the teamwork that we have at the academy and we hope that never changes. The team deserves this award.’

She added that the award had 
made the team’s night ‘that bit more special’.

Steve Cripps, healthcare relationship manager at NatWest presented the award to the team.

Scores of people nominated the academy, with many remarking about the ‘excellent’ treatment that it offers and that the staff and students are very professional.

One nominee said: ‘The students at the academy are simply excellent.’

The category was closely fought with only three practices up for the award on the night.

Portchester Dental in West Street, Portchester and Precision Dental Practice in Havant Road, Drayton were the other nominees.

The ceremony saw the area’s doctors, nurses, GP practices, dentists and others have their chance to be put in the spotlight for their work.

There were a total of 11 winners on the night.