The British Dental Association has said the plans to reallocate resource from the abolition of NHS England should contribute towards a fair funding settlement for NHS dentistry.
Last month the BDA gave written evidence to the Public Accounts Committee indicating a decade of austerity funding means thousands of NHS dentists are now delivering some NHS treatment at a loss. The Treasury’s unwillingness to help NHS dentistry stand on its own two feet is accelerating the exodus to the private sector. A simple new NHS patient exam loses a typical practice £7.69; a denture - £42.60.
The professional body has lambasted recent Government plans to raise NHS charges, which in the past merely acted as a cover for cuts, within a static budget that’s barely changed in a generation.
Labour has pledged reform of the failed contract in NHS dentistry. The BDA says a fair funding settlement has to underpin meaningful negotiations.
In managing this overhaul, the BDA stress ministers must ensure that there is sufficient capacity within the Department of Health to cover reform of the dental contract, and maintain the existing Dental Public Health workforce, who are vital to delivering the Government's agenda on improving oral health and reducing inequalities.
Shiv Pabary, Chair of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee, said:
“The PM says he's going to ‘shift money to the frontline,’ but will a broken NHS dental service see a penny of this?
“Choices made at the Treasury have left millions unable to access care, while practices lose money doing NHS work.
“We cannot build a service fit for the future without sustainable funding.”