Updates from week commencing 12 April 2021

Read all the updates and what we've been working on during the Coronavirus outbreak.

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.”

Read: Are dentists suffering in silence?

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."

Read: Wales: Bridging the gap with our oral health manifesto

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".

Read: Scotland: Putting dentistry on the political agenda

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.

Read: Is NHS dentistry valued? Four things you need to know

11:14

Are dentists suffering in silence?

This Stress Awareness Month, Sian Hammersley of Health Assured looks at the take up of our 24/7 counselling and mental health support services:

Read: Are dentists suffering in silence?

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.”

Read: Northern Ireland: What’s next for children’s oral health?

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

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.