Friday 16 April 2021
15:01
Are dentists suffering in silence?
During these difficult times, high quality, timely support to maintain mental wellbeing is needed more than ever. We provide BDA members with free access to
Health Assured, a confidential assistance programme. However, we have seen a lower than expected uptake, in comparison to other healthcare professionals. Are dentists having trouble asking for help with their mental health?
This Stress Awareness Month, Sian Hammersley of Health Assured looks at the take up of our 24/7 counselling and mental health support services:
“We expected a big surge in requests for support during the first lockdown, but this was slow to materialise. It wasn't until June 2020 that we suddenly saw call volumes increase by 1,200%, and they then peaked again in the typically gloomy winter months. During this time, members used the counselling service for support and guidance for an array of reasons, the most common of which being anxiety, employment issues and work-related stress, low mood and bereavement.”
13:58
Wales: Bridging the gap on oral health
Our
oral health manifesto for Wales has already made a difference.
Plaid Cymru have devoted an entire section of their manifesto to improving dentistry in Wales, while Welsh Labour have also discussed improving access to dental services within their manifesto.
With the elections coming up, Russell Mark Gidney, Chair of our Welsh General Dental Practice Committee, outlines what the next Welsh Government must do to bridge the gap in oral health inequalities and rebuild dentistry in Wales.
"I urge you to show your support for dentistry by speaking to your local candidate... please explain to them the problems facing NHS dentistry and ask them – if elected – to speak up for dentists and the nation’s oral health in the Senedd."
12:45
Scotland: Putting dentistry on the political agenda
Ahead of next month's elections, we have made our case to the next Scottish Government clear: Action must be taken to bridge oral health inequality and support dentistry.
Since the launch of our manifesto last week, extensive newspaper and broadcast coverage of our action plan - including a front page of The Herald - has finally pushed dentistry up the political agenda.
In his blog, Robert Donald, Chair of our Scottish Council, outlines how our oral health manifesto is shaping the election debate and what the next Scottish Government needs to do to bridge oral health inequalities.
"The Scottish National Party has heeded our calls for action to increase access and deliver a new long-term funding model for dentistry. Their manifesto pledges to completely remove patient charges... and to work with the BDA to shape a reformed funding arrangement for NHS dentists so that they are supported for the future".
11:09
Help managing stress: Resources and services
Are you or your colleagues experiencing stress? This Stress Awareness Month we encourage you to avail of the
resources and services that are available to support dentists and their teams with stress management. Included in our lists are both UK-wide services and those specific to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and specific resources for issues such as suicide prevention, addiction and bereavement.
You don't have to be a BDA member to access most of these resources, so please do take a look at what's available to you and consider reaching out. If you are a BDA member, you can also access our 24/7 confidential counselling service. Your mental health matters. If you are experiencing stress, please do reach out.
08:48
Scotland: SNP manifesto pledges reform for NHS dentistry
We are ready to work with a future SNP government on pledges made in the party’s manifesto, released yesterday.
The party has pledged to abolish patient charges over the course of the next parliament, and to work with us to “shape a reformed funding arrangement for NHS dentists so that they are supported for the future”.
We believe charges (currently comprising 20% of the NHS dental budget) are a barrier to care for those on modest incomes. Furthermore, we are seeking assurances that any move will not lead to a reduction in overall funding.
We have already
warned of widening inequality following the COVID pandemic, with high street services operating at a fraction of their former capacity, with an estimated 2,500 children now facing up to year-long waits for dental extractions in hospitals.
We are seeking capital investment in areas such as ventilation that to help restore patient volumes.
As David McColl, chair of our Scottish Dental Practice Committee, said: "These are big plans to bring down barriers to care and improve access, but they must go hand in hand with needed investment if services millions depend on are going to remain sustainable."
Thursday 15 April 2021
14:55
Scotland: Government restates position on funding and remobilisation
We have received a
reply from the CDO to our
letter to the Minister on 10 March. The reply restates the Government's position on financial support and the need for an interim funding model. It also notes the ventilation survey which is currently under way and alludes to Boards' plans to remobilise PDS and HDS. It also outlines their plan to fully restart Childsmile in the new school year.
We will continue to pursue these and other issues with the Scottish Government, and although there may not be much scope for progress until after the election, we will update you as soon as possible.
12:14
Making your case to the DDRB
This week our case to the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration (DDRB) made clear what’s needed for NHS Dentistry to remain viable - not only as a career for dentists, but for crucial patient access.
Our team, which represents dentists of all types from all over the country, has asked for a 5% pay increase to go towards addressing the real terms decrease over the last eight years and support for dentists in their efforts to address the increasing oral health inequalities in our nation.
Vice-Chair of the BDA board Peter Crooks outlines why this is important even in these financially constrained times.
11:14
Are dentists suffering in silence?
During these difficult times, high quality, timely support to maintain mental wellbeing is needed more than ever. We provide BDA members with free access to
Health Assured, a confidential assistance programme. However, we have seen a lower than expected uptake, in comparison to other healthcare professionals. Are dentists having trouble asking for help with their mental health?
This Stress Awareness Month, Sian Hammersley of Health Assured looks at the take up of our 24/7 counselling and mental health support services:
“We expected a big surge in requests for support during the first lockdown, but this was slow to materialise. It wasn't until June 2020 that we suddenly saw call volumes increase by 1,200%, and they then peaked again in the typically gloomy winter months. During this time, members used the counselling service for support and guidance for an array of reasons, the most common of which being anxiety, employment issues and work-related stress, low mood and bereavement.”
10:44
Northern Ireland: What’s next for children’s oral health?
It will be some time before we know the full impact of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic on oral health. What we know is that in a year when routine care and prevention activity all but ceased and lockdown lifestyles took over, our teeth will have suffered the consequences.
In a recent blog, Laura Orr looks at the impact the pandemic has had on children’s oral health in particular, where we are now and how we can improve things:
“During the pandemic, Belfast Trust accessed some GA paediatric sessions in the South Eastern Trust, cutting down the waiting list. A regional GA service is now under development by the Health and Social Care Board. This may be a chance to break the cycle and give prevention its necessary platform.”
07:59
Members invited to up-coming AGM
Our 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held online on Thursday 6 May at 19.30. As a BDA member you are invited to attend, however, you must register in advance to gain access.
To register, log into the website and then
book the webinar using the pink 'Register' button. That page also has more information regarding the meeting’s agenda, as well as registration and voting by proxy.
Once you have secured your place, you will receive an email with further instructions. We look forward to seeing you there.
Wednesday 14 April 2021
14:25
Help managing stress: Resources and services
Are you or your colleagues experiencing stress? This Stress Awareness Month we encourage you to avail of the
resources and services that are available to support dentists and their teams with stress management. Included in our lists are both UK-wide services and those specific to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and specific resources for issues such as suicide prevention, addiction and bereavement.
You don't have to be a BDA member to access most of these resources, so please do take a look at what's available to you and consider reaching out. If you are a BDA member, you can also access our 24/7 confidential counselling service. Your mental health matters. If you are experiencing stress, please do reach out.
13:40
Wales: Join our focus groups on employment law
The pandemic has thrown a renewed spotlight on employment status with some associates feeling less secure in their roles. Potential changes to NHS contracts in Wales raise further questions about how to pay associates and maintain self-employment.
If you are an associate or practice owner in Wales and are keen to contribute your thoughts and experiences for the benefit of the profession, please
share your experience with us. We’d like to hear from members delivering NHS, private or a mix of care.
11:08
Scotland: Coverage of our oral health asks
Since we published our manifesto,
Bridging the gap: tackling oral health inequalities, we've secured widespread media coverage for oral health and dentistry, including:
- Our call for action on oral health has made the front page of The Herald, and was also covered by the Scotsman, the Sun, the Highland Times, the North Edinburgh Evening News as well as BBC news bulletins last week
- Robert Donald, Chair of BDA's Scottish Council, wrote
a piece on the importance of water fluoridation in the Herald (paywall) over the weekend.
- Graham Smith, Chair of our Scottish Public Dental Service Committee, spoke on
BBC Radio Scotland’s Drivetime programme on Monday, to discuss the benefits of having fluoride in the water (listen at 01:36).
This extensive coverage has helped push dentistry up the political agenda. Scottish Labour’s NHS Recovery Plan commits them to making capital spending available to improve dental surgeries to “repair the damage caused by real terms cuts over the past decade”. A number of Parliamentary candidates from all three biggest Scottish political parties have pledged to work to ‘bridge the gap’ on oral health inequalities if elected.
You may be interested in attending two upcoming virtual hustings events specifically on health issues, one
organised by MDDUS this afternoon and another by
Holyrood magazine on Monday 19 April.
10:23
Scotland: Update on ventilation survey and lateral flow testing
The CDO has written to Scottish dental practices to update them on the
progress of various Scottish Government initiatives.
This letter reminds practices to participate in
a ventilation survey before the deadline on Friday 23 April to help the Scottish Government inform policy and accurately assess practices’ ventilation needs.
The letter also encourages practices to participate in the COVID-19 lateral flow device testing programme, which started on 15 February, by testing all eligible staff on a routine basis. This programme is intended to replace the COVID-19 Surveillance Programme which was discontinued at the end of March. See
Q5 in our FAQs for more information on lateral flow testing.
09:03
Scotland: Update on £500 COVID payment
In February, the Scottish Government issued
guidance to independent contractors, including GDPs, explaining how to receive the £500 one-off payment for helping Scotland cope with the pandemic.
The guidance advised that the payment would be pro-rated for practitioners who worked less than full-time. GDPs were regarded as full-time where they worked 40 hours per week and salaried dentists 37.5 hours per week. We questioned this difference with the Scottish Government at the time and were advised that all dentists, irrespective of sector, would be entitled to receive the full £500 payment if they worked a minimum of 37.5 hours per week.
However, GDPs then informed us that in practice their payments were being abated when declaring 37.5 hours rather than 40. So, we raised the matter with the Scottish Government and have now received confirmation that GDPs declaring 37.5 hours will be treated as full-time equivalent. Any affected payments already made will be adjusted by PSD. We welcome this clarity from the Scottish Government and will continue to raise members' concerns and campaign on your behalf.
Tuesday 13 April 2021
17:13
Wales: What government must do on oral health
Dentistry in Wales was in sharp decline even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last year has seen access to services collapse, and pioneering work in the community to address oral health inequalities left at risk.
Ahead of the Senedd elections, our message to all parties hoping to form the next Welsh government is clear. The next government must:
- Improve access to NHS dentistry
- Take action on oral health inequalities
- Enable a fresh start for dental services post COVID.
We've shared our
manifesto for the 2021 Senedd Cymru election with all the major parties to aid their understanding of oral health issues from dentists' perspectives. This outreach has already borne fruit, with
Plaid Cymru devoting an entire section of their manifesto to their plans for improving dentistry in Wales. Improving access to dental services has also been included in the Welsh Labour manifesto. Candidates from five parties have pledged to bridge the gap on oral health inequalities if elected.
If you have contact with any candidates on the campaign trail, be sure to let them know you are a BDA member, and use the policy calls in our manifesto to help your discussion.
16:03
Dental students: Share your stories
20% of all applications for financial support to the BDA Benevolent Fund come from dental students, and the charity supports students in hardship by offering means tested grants and mental health and wellbeing support.
Now the BDA Benevolent Fund are looking for students to attend its next virtual Advisory Council meeting to share their experiences and perhaps provide guidance, support, and advice to the charity's Board of Trustees. They are particularly keen to understand how best to promote its work to dental students and so would welcome undergraduates, recent graduates and those that work at universities across the UK to participate. If you're a dental student, please consider attending on Saturday 24 April at 10.30. Your voice can make a difference.
14:03
Scotland: How water fluoridation can help tackle the oral health crisis
We discussed oral health inequalities and the benefits of water fluoridation with
BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime yesterday (listen from 01:51).
Graham Smith, Chair of our Scottish Public Dental Service Committee said: "Six million in the UK have fluoridated water supplies, it's cut children decay by about 25% in these areas. The benefit of water fluoridation will affect our most deprived and marginalised communities... it's flattening the curve between the have and have nots."
13:13
Scotland: Policy discussions paused during pre-election period
The Scottish Government has informed us that it is strictly following pre-election guidance and has suspended policy discussions in the run up to the Scottish Parliament election on 6 May. This applies to all areas, not just dentistry.
We had been meeting with the CDO and Scottish Government officials fortnightly to discuss a range of issues, including plans to measure GDS activity as a basis for the introduction of tiered financial support, ventilation guidance, PPE and the COVID vaccination programme.
We appreciate that members are concerned about these and other issues, and the current pause in discussions is clearly frustrating. Where possible, we will continue to discuss issues with Scottish Government officials during the pre-election period and will keep you posted on developments.
08:47
Wales: Bonus payments for NHS dental teams
The Welsh Government has now
replied to our letter to Vaughan Gething requesting clarification on the eligibility of all dental teams for the proposed pay bonus. They have confirmed that all NHS dental teams are eligible, and that work is being done to establish numbers and how best to arrange payment. We have been advised that this will be communicated in an upcoming Welsh Health Circular.
Regretfully, they chose not to respond regarding our concerns about colleagues in private practice. This is concerning considering the importance of the role they play in the dental community, and we will continue to make the case for all dental teams.
Monday 12 April 2021
16:42
Pressing for a 5% pay increase
Colleagues have just finished providing oral evidence to the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration (DDRB), making a clear case for what dentistry needs to thrive going forward.
We pressed for a 5% pay increase which would go towards addressing the real terms decrease over the last eight years and support for dentists in their efforts to address the increasing oral health inequalities in our nation.
Making your voices heard, our team led by PEC Deputy Chair Peter Crooks alongside the Chairs of BDA's Young Dentist Committee; England Community Dental Services Committee; General Dental Practice Committee; Scottish Dental Practice Committee; Welsh General Dental Practice Committee and Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee.
16:15
A tribute to HRH the Duke of Edinburgh 1921-2021
We have paid tribute to past President His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh following the news of his death last week.
The Duke was made an honorary member in 1957 and remained a constant supporter of the Association’s work. In 1980 he was appointed President of Honour, marking the centenary of the BDA.
Writing in his Presidential address in 1980, the Duke wrote: “If the Association feels that a hundred years is worth celebrating, I can only say that millions of dental patients will join them in their celebration, if only in thanksgiving for the vast improvement and progress in dental treatment that has taken place in that period and for the development of the concept of prevention as of equal importance to treatment.”
The Association has extended its condolences to Her Majesty the Queen, the Association’s Royal Patron.
BDA President Russ Ladwa said: “The BDA has lost an honorary member, a past President, and a firm believer in the role dentists play in improving the health of the nation.
“Over 40 years ago the Duke set out a vision on prevention that was ahead of its time and remains our goal.
“The Association salutes the foresight of my predecessor, and on behalf of this profession let me extend our condolences to our Patron, Her Majesty the Queen, and to the Royal Family.”
16:06
Visa extensions for health workers during the pandemic
The government has announced that overseas healthcare workers might be able to apply for a one-year visa extension for free. In order to be eligible, healthcare workers must have a current visa that expires between 1 April 2021 and 20 September 2021, and work for the NHS or an independent healthcare provider in an eligible profession. Dental practitioners are included in the list of eligible professions published by the Home Office.
For further information see
GOV.UK: Visa extensions for health workers during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Please note that the BDA cannot advise on visa applications.
15:25
Scotland: CDO responds to our concerns re: Public and Hospital Dental Services
The
Chief Dental Officer for Scotland, Tom Ferris, has responded to our
recent letter in which we expressed concerns related to the Public Dental Service (PDS) and Hospital Dental Service (HDS) in Scotland.
Our concerns include waiting times for paediatric extractions under general anaesthetic and morale and capacity in the PDS. Mr Ferris' reply states that he is keen for the whole dental profession to remobilise as quickly as possible, and that clinical teams are able to provide the necessary care to all.
We will pick up these issues with the CDO and government after the Scottish Parliamentary election next month when restrictions on government discussions are lifted.
12:19
England: GDC must stop cloak and dagger tactics
We have called on the General Dental Council to stop using registrant money on under-cover investigations.
This call follows the GDC's recent admission of unlawfully undertaking in operations against a registrant. Between 2013 and 2019, the GDC spent £59,258.85 on investigators - behaviour that
we previously described as “entrapment”. We have expressed disbelief that registrants' fees have been used to cover both the costs of related activity and resulting legal costs.
Following the initial revelations, the regulator attempted to justify its approach by stating there were ‘misconceptions’ about its work in this area. These methods must be focused squarely on illegal operators and the growing risk presented by direct-to-patient orthodontics.
A significant review of healthcare regulation is currently underway and we will endeavour to ensure that regulation in dentistry will become more proportionate as a result.
Our Chair, Eddie Crouch has stated: “The use of cloak and dagger tactics against innocent registrants underlines the need for fundamental change at the GDC. The big task ahead for ministers is to turn the page and deliver proportionate, cost-effective healthcare regulation. We will ensure the voice of our members is heard.”
10:49
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09:50
Join our focus groups on employment law
The pandemic has thrown a renewed spotlight on employment status with some associates feeling less secure in their roles. Potential changes to NHS contracts in England and Wales raise further questions about how to pay associates and maintain self-employment.
If you are an associate or practice owner in England or Wales and are keen to contribute your thoughts and experiences for the benefit of the profession, please
share your experience with us. We’d like to hear from members delivering NHS, private or a mix of care.