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Latest updates

The BDA is doing everything in its power on the issues that matter to you. Whether you are in private, mixed or NHS practice, our priority is the safety of you, your team and your patients and the financial sustainability of your practice. I am regularly adding to this page to keep you updated on what we are doing across the UK.


Martin Woodrow
Chief Executive

 


 

Friday 24 March 2023

17:29


Website availability this weekend

 

Due to essential maintenance work, bda.org will be offline from 18:00 on Saturday (25 March) until early morning on Sunday (26 March).

 

If you need access to any files, please download them before this period. The CPD Hub and Online booking of events will not be available. The library online catalogue is not affected and will be accessible during the work.

 

We apologise for the inconvenience.

 


 

12:38


Managing your NHS clawback

Across England and Wales, many practices are facing clawback, which is set to reach record highs this year.

Our new video shows how to manage the clawback process, which is inevitable for some contractors, if you anticipate struggling in the new financial year.

We are here to support you, alongside advice, our team are available to offer Extra and Expert members one-to-one support based on your individual circumstances. You can call 020 7935 0875 or email the team for support.




Thursday 23 March 2023

16:43


England: Ministers remain asleep at the wheel as child oral health gap widens


Ministers need to step up, as the first oral health survey of 5-year-olds published since lockdown shows no improvements in decay levels and a widening gap between rich and poor.


23.7% of 5-year-old children in England had experience of obvious dentinal decay. This was a marginal increase on the previous survey of 5-year-olds in 2019, where figures stood at 23.4%.


We have been deeply concerned that ongoing and severe access problems, together with disruption to public health programmes and lockdown diets will widen these deep oral health inequalities further.


Sadly, the UK Government has done little to nothing to arrest these trends, which requires action on the high sugar foods fuelling decay. While supervised brushing programmes in nurseries and primary schools are key parts of funded national programmes in Wales and Scotland, the UK government has failed to even bring forward pledges to consult on expanding efforts in England. While measures to simplify the rollout of water fluoridation were contained in the Health and Care Act that gained royal assent in April 2022, not a single new programme has been announced.

And as we told the Health Committee on Monday, we need to see real ambition on restoring access to dental care and arresting the exodus of dentists from the NHS. Our children - indeed all our patients - deserve better.

 


 

15:19


British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2023


The British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show (BDCDS) is returning on 12 – 13 May 2023 at NEC, Birmingham.


The UK's largest dental show will host 200+ world-class speakers, 400+ leading exhibitions and 150+ hours of enhanced CPD, ensuring material for everyone on your dental team.


Register now to get you and your team a free pass and gain access to one of the biggest events in dentistry.




Wednesday 22 March 2023

16:40


Advice: one-to-one advice available for Extra and Expert members 

 

If you're an Extra or Expert member you have access to unlimited one-to-one advice via phone or email from our team of experienced advisors.

 

With more than 70 years of advising dentists, our advisors are experts in the laws, contracts, and regulations of dentistry. If you're facing complex issues, we will pair you with an advisor who will handle your advice on a one-to-one basis. 

 

Expert membership also gives you and your team all the policies, templates, and checklists you need to manage a safe, efficient, and compliant practice.

 

For more information on one-to-one advice, contact our Practice support team on 020 7563 4574 or email: advice.enquiries@bda.org.

 

Not a member? Join today.

 


 

Tuesday 21 March 2023

16:57


England: MPs told NHS dentistry is 'sinking ship'

We warned the service is reaching the end of the road in evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee inquiry into NHS dentistry today.

The Committee heard how a failed NHS contract and chronic underfunding have fuelled an exodus from the service, and that in place of reform government has delivered mere tweaks to the system without a penny of new investment.


General Dental Practice Committee Chair Shawn Charlwood stressed that the situation can be turned around, but recent marginal changes do not come close to a reformed contract.

"This really isn't rocket science" Shawn said. "Improve the terms and conditions, increase commitment through sustainable funding, and we will have NHS dentists again."

 


 

09:34


England: We’re in Westminster
This morning we are giving evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee.

The hearing should begin at 10am.
You can watch live on parliamentlive.tv 




Monday 20 March 2023

14:03


Scotland: Delay on revised SDR


Minister for Public Health Maree Todd MSP has just confirmed delay to showcasing the revised Statement of Dental Remuneration.

 

Practices were expecting updates before the start of the next NHS financial year on 1 April.

 

This only underlines our case that reform must be a top priority in the first hundred days of the next administration.




12:21


England: Lib Dems pledge to fix NHS dentistry

We were pleased to see the Liberal Democrats become the first UK political party to commit fixing NHS dentistry. 

A resolution passed at their spring conference in York this weekend commits them to a policy of reforming NHS dental services contract and increasing funding.
We work with politicians from across the political spectrum, and we welcome the leadership shown by the party. 

This crisis is hitting millions across every UK nation. Every party has a responsibility to set out a plan. 




09:17


England: Ministers have moral duty to act on access crisis in care homes


The latest research from the Care Quality Commission reveals a collapse in access to NHS dentistry among care home residents.


Feedback from care homes indicates that since 2019, and the onset of lockdown, the proportion of residents never accessing NHS dental care routinely has grown from 6% to 25%.


We have been calling for a revolution in dentistry in care homes since the CQC published their first report in 2019 – but real progress secured now appears to be at risk. 


Sadly news reaches us both the Department of Health and NHS England have declined to even comment on the report. These vulnerable patients require more than words. They need action. 



 

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Updates archive

2023

March

Week commencing 6 March 2023

Week commencing 13 March 2023


February 

Week commencing 6 February 2023

Week commencing 13 February 2023

Week commencing 20 February 2023

Week commencing 27 February 2023


January 

Week commencing 2 January 2023

Week commencing 9 January 2023

Week commencing 16 January 2023

Week commencing 23 January 2023

Week commencing 30 January 2023


2022

December

Week commencing 5 December 2022

Week commencing 12 December 2022

Week commencing 19 December 2022


November 

Week commencing 7 November 2022

Week commencing 14 November 2022

Week commencing 21 November 2022

Week commencing 28 November 2022


October

Week commencing 3 October 2022

Week commencing 10 October 2022

Week commencing 17 October 2022

Week commencing 24 October 2022

Week commencing 31 October 2022


September

Week commencing 5 September 2022

Week commencing 12 September 2022

Week commencing 19 September 2022

Week commencing 26 September 2022


August

Week commencing 1 August 2022

Week commencing 8 August 2022

Week commencing 15 August 2022

Week commencing 22 August 2022

Week commencing 29 August 2022


July

Week commencing 4 July 2022

Week commencing 11 July 2022

Week commencing 18 July 2022

Week commencing 25 July 2022


June

Week commencing 6 June 2022

Week commencing 13 June 2022

Week commencing 20 June 2022

Week commencing 27 June 2022


May

Week commencing 2 May 2022

Week commencing 9 May 2022

Week commencing 16 May 2022

Week commencing 23 May 2022

Week commencing 30 May 2022


April

Week commencing 4 April 2022

Week commencing 11 April 2022

Week commencing 18 April 2022

Week commencing 25 April 2022


March

Week commencing 7 March 2022

Week commencing 14 March 2022

Week commencing 21 March 2022

Week commencing 28 March 2022


February

Week commencing 7 February 2022

Week commencing 14 February 2022

Week commencing 21 February 2022

Week commencing 28 February 2022


January 

Week commencing 3 January 2022

Week commencing 10 January 2022

Week commencing 17 January 2022

Week commencing 24 January 2022

Week commencing 31 January 2022


2021

December 2021

Week commencing 6 December 2021

Week commencing 13 December 2021

Week commencing 20 December 2021

 

November 2021

Week commencing 1 November 2021

Week commencing 8 November 2021

Week commencing 15 November 2021

Week commencing 22 November 2021

Week commencing 29 November 2021

 

October 2021

Week commencing 4 October

Week commencing 11 October

Week commencing 18 October

Week commencing 25 October

 

September 2021


Week commencing 6 September

Week commencing 13 September

Week commencing 20 September

Week commencing 27 September

 

August 2021


Week commencing 2 August

Week commencing 9 August

Week commencing 16 August

Week commencing 23 August

Week commencing 30 August


July 2021


Week commencing 5 July

Week commencing 12 July

Week commencing 19 July

Week commencing 26 July

 

June 2021


Week commencing 1 June 2021

Week commencing 7 June 2021

Week commencing 14 June 2021

Week commencing 21 June 2021

Week commencing 28 June 2021

 

May 2021

Week commencing 3 May 2021

Week commencing 10 May 2021

Week commencing 17 May 2021

Week commencing 24 May 2021

 

April 2021

Week commencing 5 April 2021

Week commencing 12 April 2021

Week commencing 19 April 2021

Week commencing 26 April 2021

 

March 2021

Week commencing 1 March 2021

Week commencing 8 March 2021

Week commencing 15 March 2021

Week commencing 22 March 2021

Week commencing 29 March 2021

 

February 2021

Week commencing 1 February 2021

Week commencing 8 February 2021

Week commencing 15 February 2021

Week commencing 22 February 2021

 

January 2021

Week commencing 4 January 2021

Week commencing 11 January 2021

Week commencing 18 January 2021

Week commencing 25 January 2021

 

2020

December 2020

Read our live updates to find out more:

 

Full updates from week commencing 30 November 2020

Full updates from week commencing 7 December 2020

Full updates from week commencing 14 December 2020

Full updates from week commencing 21 December 2020

 

November 2020

Read our live updates to find out more:

 

Full updates from week commencing 2 November 2020

Full updates from week commencing 9 November 2020

Full updates from week commencing 16 November 2020

Full updates from week commencing 23 November 2020

 

October 2020

Read our live updates to find out more:

 

Full updates from week commencing 5 October 2020

Full updates from week commencing 12 October 2020

Full updates from week commencing 19 October 2020
Full updates from week commencing 26 October 2020

 

September 2020

Read our live updates to find out more:

 

Full updates from week commencing 1 September 2020

Full updates from week commencing 7 September 2020

Full updates from week commencing 14 September 2020

Full updates from week commencing 21 September 2020

Full updates from week commencing 28 September 2020

 

August 2020

Read our live updates from August to find out more:

 

Full updates from week commencing 03 August 2020

Full updates from week commencing 10 August 2020

Full updates from week commencing 17 August 2020

Full updates from week commencing 24 August 2020

 

July 2020

Read our live updates from July to find out more:

 

Full updates from week commencing 6 July 2020

Full updates from week commencing 13 July 2020

Full updates from week commencing 20 July 2020

Full updates from week commencing 27 July 2020

 

June 2020

In June dental practices in England reopened, however PPE shortages, cash flow and childcare made the return difficult for many. Non-AGP care resumed in Scotland, as private practices began to re-open. Wales and Northern Ireland also saw an expansion of care, as restrictions were slowly lifted across the country.

 

We launched a toolkit for returning to face-to-face care to help our members re-open safely and efficiently. Over 6,000 members downloaded it in the first day for advice on issues such as social distancing in practice, PPE, fit-testing and employment issues.

 

We presented evidence of the catastrophic impact of the pandemic on dentistry to the House of Commons' Health select Committee, and pushed for clarify on financial support in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh. We also secured widespread media coverage for dentists' concerns.

 

Read our live updates from June to find out more:

 

Full updates for week commencing 1 June

Full updates for week commencing 8 June

Full updates for week commencing 15 June

Full updates for week commencing 22 June

Full updates for week commencing 29 June

 

May 2020

In May, as lockdown continued and death rates fell, we helped members prepare for the re-opening of dental practices.

 

In England it was announced that practices could re-open from 8 June, in contrast to the phased re-opening announced In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. We developed a risk assessment tool and advised members on how to return-to-work safely and efficiently.

 

We also took action on business interruption cover by engaging the law firm Brown Rudnick LLP for legal advice on insurers not paying insurance claims made by dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Our campaigns for PPE and financial support made progress, but government continued to drag its feet in supporting self-employed and private dentists, so we continued to push on your behalf at a national and regional level.

 

Full updates for week commencing 4 May

Full updates for week commencing 11 May

Full updates for week commencing 18 May

Full updates for week commencing 25 May

 

April 2020

Coronavirus cases continued to rise in April, with the death-toll surpassing 10,000 by Easter weekend. Urgent dental centres (UDCs) were set up across the country. Shortages of PPE for frontline health care workers resulted in delays, particularly in England.

 

We fought to support members and petition the government on issues ranging from PPE availability, to the financial sustainability of dentistry. We pushed MPs and secured widespread media coverage on these issues. Our campaign for private practices garnered cross-party support with 101 MPs signing our letter calling on the government to consider the plight of dentists. Dentists across the UK volunteered to help the response and were redeployed across NHS services.  

 

We developed tools for members, such as our furlough calculator, webinars on financial issues and an extensive FAQ page in response to member questions.

 

Full updates for week commencing 6 April

Full updates for week commencing 13 April

Full updates for week commencing 20 April

Full updates for week commencing 27 April

 

March 2020

In March 2020 we saw a radical departure from normal life in the UK. The COVID-19 outbreak led to schools, restaurants and bars being closed and unprecedented restrictions were placed on dental treatment.  

 

From the start, we demanded the Government confirm a financial support strategy for the dental sector. Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledged furloughing, loans and cash grants. But we sought clarity on support for NHS and mixed practices and we consistently pushed for Government to extend support to self-employed dentists and private practices. 

 

Wales became the first UK country to move to red alert status, which saw restrictions to all routine care and plans to open urgent dental centres (UDCs) announced. Scotland and Northern Ireland soon followed, however, there were delays in England, which we took directly to the Minister.  

 

With many practices all but closing, this was a stressful and confusing time for many dentists. Our advice team answered record numbers of member queries and we launched our Coronavirus advice pages to update you on the latest developments.

 

 

 

Full updates for week commencing 9 March

Full updates for week commencing 16 March

Full updates for week commencing 23 March

Full updates for week commencing 30 March