As the new Welsh Government set out their clearest statement of intent yet on dentistry, we have warned Plaid cannot simply repeat the soundbites of its Labour predecessors if it really wants to end the crisis in the service.
In a written statement made this week, Cabinet Secretary Mabon ap Gwynfor MS set out intentions to potentially back a new dental school in rural Wales, called for re-examination of the use of mobile clinics, and defended the controversial new NHS dental contract as ‘the most significant change to NHS dentistry in Wales for almost twenty years.’
We have repeatedly warned that the model was being implemented at breakneck speed without adequate testing or piloting and without the additional investment needed to make it succeed.
In June we wrote at length to the Cabinet Secretary setting out in detail the serious operational and contractual problems already emerging from the new regulations and requesting an urgent meeting to discuss practical solutions. That meeting has yet to take place.
In our letter, we warned that NHS dental activity was running at only around half of expected levels, that practices were struggling with increased administration, IT failures and contractual complexity, and that even more practices could hand back NHS contracts before the Government's planned review later this year.
We have also highlighted concerns that increased patient charges were affecting treatment choices, that patients continued to experience difficulties accessing care despite the well-established Dental Access Portal, and that there remained little evidence of a clear programme to evaluate and improve the new arrangements.
"A new dental school won't work if the contract in place means the next generation can't see a future for themselves in the NHS,” warned Welsh General Dental Practice Committee Chair, Russell Gidney.
"Sadly, a Plaid administration appears to be recycling Labour soundbites. It might be “the most significant change” in 20 years, but this new, untested system now risks pushing more dentists out of the service.
Ministers need to ask themselves if they really want to end this crisis or simply cheerlead for their predecessors’ mistakes."
We remain ready to work constructively with ministers to develop a sustainable future for NHS dentistry. However, meaningful engagement must begin urgently.
This blog on the General Dental Services contract sets out the issues in recent months with Government officials.
