The DDRB has recommended a 3.75% uplift on pay for high street General Dental Practitioners and for Community Dentists. This above-inflation award is the highest of any group within the NHS. It has recommended 3.5% for hospital dentists.
However, the professional body believe the Department of Health intends to use GDP deflator as the basis for the expenses uplift, which will radically underestimate the significant inflationary pressures dentists in England are under. BDA estimates suggest that practices have seen staff costs increase by 14%, the cost of laboratory bills for items like dentures and crowns increase by 9% and other costs increase by 4%. Service costs for training practices are also to remain frozen. The BDA will be pressing for a sustainable approach from devolved administrations.
British Dental Association Vice Chair Peter Crooks said:
“By failing to properly reflect the costs of care, Ministers are turning a recommended pay increase into a pay cut. “These choices have real consequences for patients. The Government recently boasted of increasing dentist numbers to ease the NHS access crisis. This policy will achieve the exact opposite outcome.”