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  • NHS dentistry: PM must drop the spin and accept the facts

    The government need to drop any pretence that NHS dentistry is on the road to recovery and to deliver a much-needed rescue package, alongside a pledge for reform of the contract.

    Date: 23 May 2023

    NHS dentistry: PM must drop the spin and accept the facts


  • Wales: Statutory body set to improve health and social care services

    From 1 April 2023 the new independent statutory body LLAIS has been introduced by the Welsh Government to give the people of Wales more power and influence in shaping their health and social care services.

    Date: 17 May 2023

    Wales: Statutory body set to improve health and social care services


  • "Crisis? What Crisis?": busting myths on NHS dentistry

    Mass closures. Patients queuing at dawn outside practices. An exodus from the workforce. The challenges facing this service are crystal clear, but we're having to bust myths coming from the very top of government that NHS dentistry is somehow on the 'road to recovery'

    Date: 17 May 2023

    "Crisis? What Crisis?": busting myths on NHS dentistry


  • Northern Ireland: Celebrating 100 years with the Irish Dental Association

    Last weekend we had the privilege of joining with colleagues from the Irish Dental Association (IDA) at their annual conference at Lyrath Estate in Kilkenny.

    Date: 16 May 2023

    Northern Ireland: Celebrating 100 years with the Irish Dental Association


  • ​Mental Health Awareness Week

    This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week, the campaign aimed at tackling the stigma surrounding mental health and creating a society that prevents mental health issues from developing.

    Date: 15 May 2023

    ​Mental Health Awareness Week


  • Northern Ireland: Cuts are the wrong cure

    We have warned officials that planned cuts will devastate a service already on the brink.

    Date: 12 May 2023

    Northern Ireland: Cuts are the wrong cure


  • ​Scotland: CSLDC addresses NHS dentistry crisis

    Last month, the Conference of Scottish Local Dental Committees (CSLDC), held its annual event, welcoming CSLDC delegates, guests, Scottish Dental Practice Committee (SDPC) members, Scottish Dental Fund board members and BDA staff.

    Date: 04 May 2023

    ​Scotland: CSLDC addresses NHS dentistry crisis


  • Northern Ireland: Life beyond the SDR

    A major event for General Dental Practitioners in Northern Ireland will take place later this year. ‘Life beyond the SDR’ aims to empower practitioners to take control of their dental careers, and the professional development and business model that is most suited to them.

    Date: 02 May 2023

    Northern Ireland: Life beyond the SDR


  • Dental Core Training (DCT) 2023

    The applications for DCT places from September 2023 closed on 2 February 2023 and applicants will undertake interviews over the next few weeks.

    Date: 24 April 2023

    Dental Core Training (DCT) 2023


  • England: Ministers must rethink outrageous charge hikes

    As NHS dental charges in England jump by an historic high of 8.5% today, we've gathered evidence showing government must think again.

    Date: 24 April 2023

    England: Ministers must rethink outrageous charge hikes


  • Wales: Dental Care Practitioners can open and close treatment courses

    Chief Dental Officer, Professor Andrew Dickenson, has written to Local Health Boards and dental providers informing them that the FP17W recording system is now able to accommodate Dental Care Practitioners (DCPs) directly opening and closing courses of treatment within their scope of practice.

    Date: 20 April 2023

    Wales: Dental Care Practitioners can open and close treatment courses


  • Will your MP speak up for dentistry?

    We have worked to secure a debate on NHS dentistry in the House of Commons on Thursday 27 April – ensure your MP will be there to represent you.

    Date: 20 April 2023

    Will your MP speak up for dentistry?


  • ​England: Hundreds of dentists doing only one NHS check-up a year

    Dental deserts are on the rise, but we have warned that the true scale of the exodus from the NHS is going untracked in official figures.

    Date: 19 April 2023

    ​England: Hundreds of dentists doing only one NHS check-up a year


  • ​Supporting you through Stress Awareness Month

    April marks Stress Awareness Month, the campaign aimed at raising awareness of the negative impact stress can have on physical and mental health.

    Date: 11 April 2023

    ​Supporting you through Stress Awareness Month


  • Wales: Caution urged over contract variation wording

    The Welsh Government issued the formal 2023-24 variation to the General Dental Services (GDS) contract to Local Health Boards (LHBs) on 30 March.

    Date: 04 April 2023

    Wales: Caution urged over contract variation wording


  • England: Government must act on Integrated Care Board challenges

    We have urged government to act on recommendations from the NHS Confederation, that wholesale reform is needed as Integrated Care Boards take responsibility for NHS Dentistry.

    Date: 03 April 2023

    England: Government must act on Integrated Care Board challenges


  • The Government must act urgently to reverse the increasing inequality in child oral health in England.

    Last week, a survey of oral health in five-year-old children, produced as part of the National Dental Epidemiology Programme, found that in 2022, over 35% of children in areas of deprivation experienced dentinal decay in comparison to only 13.5% in more affluent areas.

    Date: 30 March 2023

    The Government must act urgently to reverse the increasing inequality in child oral health in England.


  • ​Scotland: Dentists issue open letter to new First Minister

    Following the election of Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and his swearing in as First Minister, dentist leaders in Scotland have called for immediate action to ensure the beleaguered service has a future.

    Date: 29 March 2023

    ​Scotland: Dentists issue open letter to new First Minister


  • ​Final-year dental students wanted for new research project

    We’re looking for final-year dental students planning to continue with clinical practice after graduating to participate in a new research project.

    Date: 29 March 2023

    ​Final-year dental students wanted for new research project


  • England: Setting the record straight on NHS charge hike

    The government has decided to hike NHS dental charges by 8.5% from 24 April 2023.

    Date: 28 March 2023

    England: Setting the record straight on NHS charge hike


  • Support to manage your NHS clawback

    Many practices across England and Wales are facing significant clawback which is set to reach record highs this year.

    Date: 24 March 2023

    Support to manage your NHS clawback


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

    Ministers need to take action to safeguard our most vulnerable patients, following a new report from the Care Quality Commission, which reveals a collapse in access to dentistry in care homes.

    Date: 20 March 2023

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


  • Wales: Discussing lack of dentistry provision with Plaid Cymru

    We met with Adam Price MS and Cefin Campbell MS from Plaid Cymru yesterday to discuss the lack of NHS dentistry in both constituencies they represent.

    Date: 16 March 2023

    Wales: Discussing lack of dentistry provision with Plaid Cymru


  • Scotland: Next First Minister must halt exodus from NHS dentistry

    We've warned the Scottish Government the future of NHS dentistry is now in doubt and the next First Minister must take urgent action.

    Date: 15 March 2023

    Scotland: Next First Minister must halt exodus from NHS dentistry


  • Wales: Government publishes further end of year reconciliation guidance

    We are pushing the Welsh Government to revise the rubric in the end of year guidance to Local Health Boards (LHBs). Our message is clear in various communications to the Chief Dental Officer, and to the Director and Deputy Director of Primary Care and Mental Health.

    Date: 13 March 2023

    Wales: Government publishes further end of year reconciliation guidance


  • Northern Ireland: Vital support maintained for dentists with further action needed

    A letter from the Department today has confirmed that the fee enhancements for high street NHS dentists under the Rebuilding Support Scheme will continue into the first quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.

    Date: 09 March 2023

    Northern Ireland: Vital support maintained for dentists with further action needed


  • ‘Quit and Win’ with No Smoking Day

    Today is No Smoking Day, the annual awareness day in the UK intended to help those looking to quit smoking.

    Date: 08 March 2023

    ‘Quit and Win’ with No Smoking Day


  • ​England: Half of dentists have cut NHS commitment with more to come

    Both the government and the opposition need to step up and offer a plan, as the results from our latest survey reveal over half of dentists in England (50.3%) report having reduced NHS commitments since the start of the pandemic.

    Date: 06 March 2023

    ​England: Half of dentists have cut NHS commitment with more to come


  • Wales: NHS pay award enhancement announced for salaried staff

    Yesterday, Welsh Government announced that the NHS pay award enhancement for 2022/2023 had been accepted, following a ballot of Trade Unions.

    Date: 01 March 2023

    Wales: NHS pay award enhancement announced for salaried staff


  • ​CDS Group - Northern Ireland Division Annual Study Day

    The CDS Group, Northern Ireland Division is hosting their Annual CDS Study Day on Thursday 23 March from 9:00 to 16:30 in the River Room at the Dunadry Hotel, Antrim.

    Date: 01 March 2023

    ​CDS Group - Northern Ireland Division Annual Study Day


  • ​2023 honour and awards recipients announced

    Nineteen individuals are being honoured in the latest round of our prestigious honours and awards for their outstanding achievements, their commitment to the BDA’s cause, and their work for the dental profession.

    Date: 28 February 2023

    ​2023 honour and awards recipients announced


  • Wales: Government to commence formal GDS contract negotiations

    Chair of the Welsh General Dental Practice Committee (WGDPC), Russell Gidney, received a letter of invitation in mid-February from the Deputy Director for Primary Care and Mental Health indicating that Welsh Government wishes to start formal General Dental Service (GDS) contract negotiations in March.

    Date: 27 February 2023

    Wales: Government to commence formal GDS contract negotiations


  • Action needed as dental student debt soars

    Our recent research published in the latest BDJ, shows the total debt of final year dental students and recent dental graduates has more than doubled, from £24,734 in 2013 to £52,922 in 2022.

    Date: 24 February 2023

    Action needed as dental student debt soars


  • England: Child hospital admissions caused by decay going unchallenged

    We have warned that new data on hospital tooth extractions among 0 to 19 year olds understates the level of demand, given huge backlogs and only partial recovery of elective services.

    Date: 23 February 2023

    England: Child hospital admissions caused by decay going unchallenged


  • ​Wales: WGDPC webinar on the future of GDS contract reform

    The Welsh General Dental Practice Committee (WGDPC) will be hosting an open webinar to provide all dental practitioners in Wales a forum to review progress with the NHS General Dental Service (GDS) contract reform and to consider the options available ahead.

    Date: 22 February 2023

    ​Wales: WGDPC webinar on the future of GDS contract reform


  • England: Clawback set to break records pushing NHS practices to the wall

    NHS dentistry in England is now set for record clawback this financial year, that will inevitably push some practices to the brink.

    Date: 21 February 2023

    England: Clawback set to break records pushing NHS practices to the wall


  • Legislation changes for international registration routes

    Changes to the Dentists Act have been confirmed this week which will, over time, provide the General Dental Council (GDC) with more flexibility with regard to its processes for the recognition of non-UK dental qualifications.

    Date: 17 February 2023

    Legislation changes for international registration routes


  • ​Wales: Rationing of dental care is not what NHS dentists signed up to

    We have backed cross party calls for "radical reform" of NHS dentistry.

    Date: 16 February 2023

    ​Wales: Rationing of dental care is not what NHS dentists signed up to


  • Cost of living crisis leaves children's oral health on the line

    Four in five teachers are now providing pupils with toothpaste and toothbrushes as the cost of living crisis bites.

    Date: 06 February 2023

    Cost of living crisis leaves children's oral health on the line


  • ​Scotland: The clock is ticking to 1 April

    In just two months the 'bridging payments' to NHS practices in Scotland will cease. There is no clarity on what support will take its place.

    Date: 03 February 2023

    ​Scotland: The clock is ticking to 1 April