The announcement of an expansion of the pilots for a new dental contract in England is a positive step forward, the British Dental Association (BDA) said today (5 October 2012).
The BDA was commenting on a Department of Health (DH) announcement that approximately 25 more practices will be joining the piloting of new contractual arrangements in April 2013. Seventy practices are already participating in the pilots. Simultaneously with the announcement, DH has published analysis of the progress of the pilots so far.
Dr John Milne, Chair of the BDA’s General Dental Practice Committee, said:
“Today’s announcement is a positive step forward. The pilots require time, engagement with the profession and proper evaluation if they are to create a new contract that works for patients and practitioners. The BDA will continue to assert the importance of all three things.
“Feedback obtained from participating practices by BDA research earlier this year was largely positive. Where problems have been identified with the pilots, DH does appear to have listened to the profession and made sensible adjustments.
“The BDA will continue its independent evaluation of the pilots, press for further changes where they are needed and, when the time comes, insist that the final proposed new contract is properly negotiated with the profession.”
Dr Milne provided an assessment of the progress of the pilots so far in a blog to mark the anniversary of their announcement. That blog is available on the BDA website.
