Tag: dentistry

New dentists required to deliver NHS care under UK Government plans

Consultation asks whether newly qualified dentists should commit to delivering a minimum amount of NHS work after graduating or repay some training fees

  • Proposals would require dental graduates to work in the NHS for several years after graduating or repay their training fees
  • Part of Westminster government and NHS plan to recover dentistry and boost the dental workforce through 40% training expansion

Newly qualified dentists could be required to deliver NHS care for several years after they graduate under a government consultation being launched yesterday.

Training an individual dentist can cost up to around £300,000, of which costs in the region of £200,000 are not repayable by the student.

However, a growing proportion of dentists are opting to go straight into private practice or are choosing to deliver little to no NHS work shortly after completing postgraduate dental foundation training.

Of more than 35,000 dentists registered with the General Dental Council in England, just over 24,000 delivered some NHS care in England in 2022 to 2023. This means nearly one-third of registered dentists are not contributing to NHS dentistry and may be working solely in private practice.

Under its consultation, which will run for 8 weeks, the government is asking whether newly qualified dentists should commit to delivering a minimum amount of NHS dental care for a minimum number of years after graduating, and whether they should repay some of the public funding invested in their training if they do not.

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “I want to make access to dentistry faster, simpler and fairer for everyone – and part of this is ensuring that dentists are supporting the NHS with their skills and expertise.

Taxpayers make a significant investment in training dentists, so it is only right to expect dental graduates to work in the NHS once they’ve completed their training.

“This builds on our dental recovery plan, which set out how we will create up to 2.5 million extra appointments this year alone and is already showing results with an extra 500 practices providing appointments.”

Thursday’s proposals form part of the government’s overall plan to accelerate the recovery of NHS dentistry from the COVID-19 pandemic and reform how NHS dentistry operates.

They build on the aims of NHS Long Term Workforce Plan to expand the dental workforce and improve access to NHS dental care, especially in under-served parts of the country. 

The UK government believes working in the NHS will give dental graduates the best start to their careers, by giving them the broadest range of experience, great support from strong teams of dental professionals and the most comprehensive training.

Experience in NHS dentistry helps to produce well-rounded clinicians who can work alongside different professions and deliver high quality and safe patient care, and can be supplemented by additional work in private dentistry. The government believes this balance is better for our skilled dental workforce and better for the patients they treat.

NHS dentists are currently delivering a greater volume of NHS treatment than the year before, with ‘courses of treatments delivered’ increasing by 23% in 2022 to 2023, compared to the previous year.

Primary Care Minister Andrea Leadsom said: “I want to thank our hard-working dentists for their efforts in treating more and more patients over recent years and helping us improve access to care.

“Through our dental recovery plan, we’re helping the sector recover from the pandemic and making NHS dentistry a more attractive career choice.

“Today’s proposals will ensure dental graduates benefit from the broad experience and comprehensive training of working in the NHS, while also delivering value for money for the taxpayer.”

There is currently no requirement for dentists to work in the NHS following the completion of their training. In contrast, a graduate medic in the UK must undertake a minimum of one year of foundation training to register as a doctor, followed by an additional year of foundation training and at least 3 years of general practice specialty training to become a GP.

Jason Wong, Chief Dental Officer for England, said: “Dental services were severely impacted by the pandemic, and it is a priority for the NHS to improve access, so it is easier for people to see a dentist.

“We launched our dental recovery plan earlier this year to deliver millions more appointments across England – and boosting the workforce is one step we can take to achieve this.”

Neil Carmichael, Executive Chair of the Association of Dental Groups, said: “We welcome the chance to engage with this consultation and ensure the NHS benefits from the skills of our graduate dentists.

“We need to see more trained dentists entering the profession and we will work with the government to ensure these proposals reflect the sector’s mixed economy and considers the needs of both NHS and private dentistry.”

Louise Ansari, CEO at Healthwatch England, said: “We welcome the opportunity for the public to have their say about these long-term proposals to address dental workforce issues, especially as access to NHS appointments continues to be one of the main issues we hear about from people across the country.  

“We also look forward to seeing separate government proposals on reforming the NHS dental contract in the coming months, as set out in the dental recovery plan.

“In the meantime, NHS bodies that plan and fund dentistry across England should take concerted and imaginative action to ensure people in greatest need can get dental care quickly.”

The launch of the consultation is the latest milestone in the delivery of the Westminster government’s dental recovery plan.

Since the plan was published in February, the government and NHS have worked to:

  • introduce a new patient premium, supporting dentists to take on new patients – with more than 500 more practices saying they are now open to new patients compared to January
  • launch the ‘golden hello’ recruitment scheme to incentivise dentists to work in under-served areas
  • raise the minimum units of dental activity (UDA) rate to £28 this year, making NHS work more attractive and sustainable
  • open a consultation on proposals to make it easier for overseas dentists to work in the UK

Responding to the proposal that Dental graduates in England could be compelled to work in the NHS work or face repaying some training costs, Prof. Grant McIntyre, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, commented: “As most dental graduates already start their careers in the NHS and contribute to NHS patient care as an undergraduate student and during their early professional career, we are uncertain of what practical benefits this proposal will have.

“Most dental graduates have also accrued significant personal debts to complete their dental training, usually in excess of £100,000. Therefore, we believe this proposal is likely to make NHS dentistry even more unattractive for dentists to provide NHS dental care as their career develops.

“As per our election manifesto, we believe a more constructive approach is needed that focuses on creating a positive working environment to encourage sustained delivery of NHS practice. This means reforming the current dental contract, improving workforce planning and a renewed emphasis on preventative health and reducing health inequalities.

“We believe positive rather than punitive steps are required to lift morale, improve dental recruitment and retention, and improve access to services for the benefit of patients and the population.”

Increased fees for NHS dentists

New payment system to expand services comes into force

 NHS dental teams will receive increased fees under a new payment structure from today (1 November) to help them to provide a comprehensive range of NHS care and treatment.

Examinations will continue to be free for all patients, with pregnant and new mothers, those claiming certain benefits, and the under 26s remaining exempt from treatment charges – around a quarter of all adult NHS dental patients.

A new awareness campaign called Brush Up will help people know where to get information and help to meet the costs.

For dentists, the new fee structure will streamline payments, cut bureaucracy and give them greater authority over the treatments offered.

In line with guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), dentists will now also be able to advise patients on how often they need check ups based on their oral health, rather than everyone being seen every six months.

Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “Our aim with this payment reform is to incentivise dentists to remain in the NHS, provide long term sustainability to the sector, and improve access for patients.

“Replacing the existing fees with a new improved set will allow dentists to provide a full range of NHS care and treatment, while those unable to pay will continue to get help.

“All patients will continue to receive free NHS dental examinations and I want to reassure those who are exempt from NHS dental charges – including children and young people under 26, and those on certain benefits – they will continue to receive free care and treatment. People on a low income are also eligible for support, details of which can be found on NHS Inform.”

Supporting the Brush Up campaign, Chair of the General Dental Council, Lord Toby Harris, said: “It’s important that everyone knows what to expect from dental healthcare. Dental professionals across the UK understand that patients’ interests must come first.

“They also know that this principle is woven through their professional standards. Everyone should have confidence that the whole dental team will continue to prioritise patients’ interests.”

Boyack: Two-tier dental crisis is failing the most vulnerable patients

The Scottish Government was unable to answer a parliamentary question regarding the number of NHS dentists who require a deposit to be paid before registering with them.

In response to a question submitted by Sarah Boyack MSP, the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Jenni Minto, said that the information requested “is not held centrally by the Scottish Government,” raising concerns about the scale of the problem and the number of people it affects.

Earlier in May, the Scottish Labour MSP for Lothian, Sarah Boyack discovered that 75% of NHS Dentists in Edinburgh and Lothians are no longer accepting new NHS patients and some of those that are accepting new patients, are charging patients to do so.

The Lothian MSP has recently released findings showing that more than 3 in 4 Dental Practices serving patients in Musselburgh are no longer accepting NHS Patients.

This comes amid concerns over dentistry services failing to recover from the pandemic and fears that NHS dentists are becoming increasingly inaccessible.

Commenting Sarah Boyack, Labour MSP, said: “How can the Scottish Government get a grip of the crisis facing our NHS Dentists if they have no clue about how it is working?

“Following concerns from constituents in Edinburgh and the Lothians, that they are unable to register with an NHS Dentist I conducted research on the state of NHS Dentistry in Lothian and the finding were shocking.

“When asked about this, the Scottish Government admitted they have no clue and do not hold any information about this.

“The SNP have created a two-tiered healthcare system that prioritises those who can afford to pay over anyone else.

“It is a disgrace that in a cost-of-living crisis the SNP/Green Scottish Government knows nothing about the added costs being placed on patients, which has been caused by their managed decline of the NHS and lack of support for dentists.

“People deserve better than a botched two-tiered system that fails the most vulnerable.”

  1. Data collected by the office of Sarah Boyack MSP on 5th May 2022 for 39 NHS Dentists in Edinburgh
Practice NameAccepting PatientsStatus on NHS Inform
Meadowbank Dental PracticeNoOpen
Holyrood Dental CareNoOpen
Parkside Dental PracticeNoOpen
Abbeymount Dental CareNoOpen
Easter Road Dental PracticeNoOpen
University Dental CareNoOpen
Bupa Dental Care PrestonfieldNoOpen
Montgomery Street Dental PracticeNoOpen
Hope Park Dental PracticeNoOpen
Vitality Dental CareNoOpen
LW DentalNoOpen
Barbour Dental CareNoClosed
Edinburgh DentalYesOpen
Annandale Dental CareYesOpen
Craigmillar Dental CentreNoOpen
Pilrig Dental PracticeNoOpen
Duddingston Dental PracticeNoOpen
KF Dental CareNoOpen
Citrus Dental PracticeNoOpen
Marchmont Dental CareNoOpen
Bellevue Dental PracticeYesOpen
Leith Walk Dental PracticeYesOpen
Southside Dental CareNoClosed
Edinburgh Gums and TeethNoOpen
Newkirkgate Dental CareNoOpen
Meadows Dental ClinicnoClosed
Frederick Dental CareYesOpen
Lauriston Dental CareNoOpen
Duddingston ParkNoOpen
NinetyfiveDentalNoOpen
City Health ClinicNoOpen
Gilmore Dental PracticeNoOpen
Great Junction Dental PracticeNoOpen
Edinburgh OrthodonticsNoOpen
Mydentist PortobelloNoOpen
Portobello Dental ClinicYesOpen
Dental ExpressNoOpen
Craigentinny Dental CareNoOpen
  1. Question submitted:

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Scottish Labour Party): To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many NHS dentists require patients to pay a deposit before registering with them.

S6W-17895

Jenni Minto: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Boyack sounds alarm over access to dentists in Musselburgh

Sarah Boyack MSP has highlighted the grim findings that more than 3 in 4 Dental Practices serving patients in Musselburgh are no longer accepting NHS Patients.

Following up on concerns of Musselburgh residents, Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack contacted practices serving the Musselburgh area to inquire whether they were accepting new NHS patients.

The findings also highlighted those that were accepting new patients had waiting lists of over six months on average.

Commenting Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said: “Patients in Musselburgh are being routinely let-down by the lack of NHS Dental provision.

“With more than three quarters of NHS Dentists unable to accept new patients, the people of Musselburgh have been left with a two-tiered system that routinely fails them.

“We are now seeing the devastating effects of the SNP mismanagement of our NHS, with patients spending months suffering unnecessarily whilst they are unable to see an NHS Dentists.

“This cannot carry on, The SNP must act now before more communities like Musselburgh are left without access to NHS services.”

Data collected by the office of Sarah Boyack MSP for the 20 closest practices to Musselburgh on 5/5/23:

Practice NamePostcodeAccepting NHS AdultsWait time for appointment
Duncan Smith Dental PracticeEH21 6AANoN/A
Campbell & Gibson Dental PracticeEH21 6AGNoPrivate Only
Musselburgh Dental CareEH21 7ADYesNo appointments until August
Craigentinny Dental CareEH15 3AYNoN/A
Dental ExpressEH15 2DANoN/A
Portobello Dental ClinicEH15 2ATYesNo Appointments until November
My Dentists PortobelloEH15 2AUNoN/A
Duddingston ParkEH15 3NYNoN/A
Duddingston Dental PracticeEH15 1QRNoN/A
Bosco Dental StudioEH22 2RFNoN/A
Midlothian Dental PracticeEH22 1JZNoAbout 6 month waiting list
Family Dental Care East LothianEH32 9BFYesN/A
SR Dental CareEH22 1AHNoN/A
WF Mocharie Dental PracticeEH22 1JBNoN/A
Craigmillar Dental CentreEH16 4AJNoN/A
Bridge Dental CareEH33 1AHNoWait list of 7 to 8 months
Brite DentalEH17 7JDNoWait list of a year
Espie and Hill Dental CareEH33 1HHYesN/A
BUPA Dental Care PrestonfieldEH16 5BYNoN/A
Links Road Dental PracticeEH32 0DUNoAugust at earliest

Holyrood Committee to drill down on Scotland’s NHS dentistry recovery

The Scottish Parliament’s COVID-19 Recovery Committee has launched a new survey of Scotland’s dentists as part of a snapshot inquiry examining the recovery of NHS dentistry services.

The inquiry will track progress by the Scottish Government on the aims set out in the NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026, which includes a commitment to return Scotland’s NHS dentistry services to pre-pandemic levels.

Dentists who provide NHS services are being invited to share their views and experiences on the recovery of services through an on-line survey which runs from Friday 5th May to Wednesday 31st May.

The inquiry will also consider the impact of additional funding for equipment and ventilation in NHS dentistry practices and the availability of access to services in communities experiencing health inequalities.

Commenting, Committee Convener, Jim Fairlie MSP said: “The COVID-19 Recovery Committee want to get the root of the issues facing Scotland’s NHS dental recovery in the wake of the pandemic.

“This inquiry will scrutinise the Scottish Government’s commitment to improve the provision of dental services as set out in the Recovery Plan.

“Scotland’s NHS dentists, who work daily on the front-line, are best placed to tell us how services are recovering, and we are encouraging them to share their experiences and views directly with Committee to inform our scrutiny and assist us in tracking progress towards recovery.”

Double acquisition makes it 70 for Dental Group

TWO Edinburgh dental practices have become the latest to join the network of the nation’s leading dental group.

Clyde Munro has struck a deal with married dentists, Duncan Sandland and Suzanne Seaton, to acquire their Colinton Dental and Riccarton Dental practices after nearly two decades in charge.

The Glasgow-based firm will take the reins of running the business and the administration involved in caring for more than 13,000 patients; while Duncan and Suzanne, both 52, will continue to work at the practices concentrating on what they love doing most, looking after patients.

With patients coming from as far as Kingussie to the Colinton practice, and the Riccarton site catering for a large cohort of students and staff from Heriot Watt University; Duncan, Suzanne and their 11 staff have reassured their patients that both practices will continue to run as normal.

Duncan said: “We have been filtering into our new roles this past month, and solely focusing on what we love doing, being dentists. It has brought Suzanne and I great joy.

“It has been no secret that the pandemic has induced a lot of stress on the dental sector, and Brexit has made recruitment difficult in finding qualified workers. Everyone at both practices has worked hard to pull through, and it felt like this was the next natural step for the business.

“Clyde Munro offered what Suzanne and I wanted, we also had good feedback from colleagues in the sector who opted to go with Clyde Munro.”

Duncan joined the Colinton Dental Practice in 1994 as an associate, and was followed by his wife Suzanne in 2003.

In 2006, Duncan and Suzanne decided to buy the practice from founders Robbie Richards and Tom Wishart.

From there the duo took on the Riccarton Dental Practice which currently has 60% of its patients enrolled from Heriot Watt University, under their stewardship the practice grew from one part-time surgery to three full-time surgeries culminating in a move to a new premises.

Duncan and Suzanne believe patients will see improvements on the high levels of service they currently receive.

Duncan added: “We expect there to be very little change in how the business is run day-to-day. Clyde Munro is likely to improve the business functions and systems to make life easier for the staff.

“Suzanne and I will still be there as well as the other members of staff and in fact it should improve the business as a whole.

“There are a lot of benefits for us dentists in being part of a group, and for the patients I think it will create a better environment.”

This comes after Clyde Munro last month announced it has exceeded 500,000 patients under its care. It now has 70 practices, more than 200 dentists and 500 members of staff.

Having launched in 2015 with just seven practices, approximately one in 11 Scots are now patients within its network.

Kirsty Dace, Chief Development Officer at Clyde Munro, said: “Duncan and Suzanne have been tremendously easy to work with and we are delighted that they are staying to focus on their passion for dentistry.

“We want to see independent practices thrive with little impact on the front of house operations when they join the group, and both Colinton Dental Practice and Riccarton Dental Practice are no exceptions.

“We look forward to a productive relationship with Duncan, Suzanne and everyone involved at the practices.”

Practices which join the group benefit from help with business functions including HR, accounts, marketing, compliance and facilities management – relieving many dentists from gruelling and distracting administration duties.

For more information on Clyde Munro, please visit: https://clydemunrodental.com/

Veteran campaigner Charlotte downs drill to fight for future of dentistry service in Scotland

The British Dental Association is delighted to announce dentist and experienced campaigner Charlotte Waite will take on a leading role in the fight for the future of dental services in Scotland.

She will take up the role of Director of BDA Scotland in October, supporting members in negotiations with the Scottish Government and overseeing outreach to the Scottish Parliament, officials, the press and wider stakeholders.

Prior to the pandemic Charlotte exposed the scandal of Westminster’s aggressive NHS fines regime, which saw millions of often vulnerable patients face £100 fines for attempting to claim free dental care or prescriptions. 

Working with the media and speaking up for patients in the UK parliament, she lifted the lid on a system that saw 1.7 million fines – worth £188 million – withdrawn because the ‘fraudsters’ targeted were actually fully entitled to claim support towards NHS dental or prescription charges.

Off the back of her powerful evidence to the Westminster Public Accounts Committee, the UK Department of Health and Social Care abandoned a ‘fines first’ policy, based on the presumption of guilt. 

While redeployed on the front line during COVID she revealed chronic PPE shortages that left hundreds of Urgent Dental Care centres struggling to deliver care to patients in agony, when most practices were closed for routine care.

Working with partners including Mencap she has continued to press the UK government for action on backlogs for patients facing yearlong waiting times for dental treatment under general anaesthetic as a result of pandemic disruption. She has also led efforts to encourage the use of Makaton – a unique language programme that uses symbols and signs, alongside speech – within dental settings, to break down barriers to communication with dental patients with learning disabilities. 

She has also spoken out in the press and lobbied the UK Government for better investment and provision of dental services for people experiencing homelessness and for residents in care homes.

News of Charlotte’s appointment comes in a week the BBC revealed 82% of NHS practices in Scotland were not accepting new adult patients, with 1 in 5 stating they had waiting times of a year or longer. Researchers were unable to find any practices taking on new patients in 9 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities.   

BDA Scotland has warned Ministers and officials they risk undermining the future sustainability of NHS dentistry, with cuts to financial support leaving some practices delivering some NHS treatments at a loss. There is a growing exodus from NHS dental services, with official data showing the total number of high street NHS dentists in Scotland has fallen by over 5% since the onset of Covid.

Waite will be pursuing BDA Scotland’s call for development of a new, sustainable long-term model for NHS dentistry, support for dentists in all fields of practice, and effective action to tackle Scotland’s deep oral health inequalities, which are now set to widen as a result of the pandemic.

The Glasgow-born Waite qualified in Dundee, before completing general professional training in the East of Scotland, locuming in Australia and then working in the Community Dental Service (CDS). She will be leaving her longstanding role in the CDS where she has provided dental care for some of the most vulnerable in society.  

Charlotte Waite said: “I’m downing my drill to fight for the future of dentistry in Scotland.    

“The service is on the brink and the public are living with the results. The Scottish Government pledged free NHS dental care for all, but we now face an exodus from the workforce, the risk of a two-tier system, and a shameful oral health gap that will only widen.  

“Our message to every MSP and every party is that this crisis will not end without real commitment. Sit down with us and we can secure a better future for a service millions depend on” 

Edinburgh dentists commit to protecting children’s teeth

At risk youngsters in most deprived communities to get varnish treatment

DEDICATED dentists from five Edinburgh practices have pledged their time in the urgent fight to stem a growing oral health emergency affecting the country’s children.

Between them, Bellastane Dental Care, Earl Grey Dental Practice, Gilmore Dental, Fairmilehead Dental Practice & Implant Centre and KF Dental are part of Clyde Munro Dental Group’s target of treating at least 1000 children with a fluoride varnish (FV) application in dedicated out of hours clinics by the close of 2022 – one of the most effective treatments for preventing tooth decay in children from the age of two.

Typically offered up to twice a year, the pandemic-induced backlog means it is not currently as readily available to families under NHS services.

The pledge comes after worrying statistics showed that 850,000 fewer patients had been seen in the past two years compared to 2017-2019. In children’s services just 55% of children in the most deprived areas have seen a dentist.

The latest data show that primary school children from the most deprived communities experience more than four times the level of tooth decay compared to children in the least deprived areas.

These stark and persistent inequalities have widened as a result of the pandemic, with the collapse in access to routine services, the suspension of public health programmes and the impact of sugar-rich lockdown diets.

Tooth decay in children is a major health problem in the UK – and despite being entirely preventable is one of the most common reasons for hospital admission in children.

Jacqui Frederick is Group Clinical Director at Clyde Munro and one of the group’s dentists to have helped more than 100 young patients access FV treatment in 2021, since Clyde Munro started the children’s clinics in the last quarter of last year.

She said: “We’re a predominantly NHS-based group and we take our responsibility as Scotland’s biggest dental group seriously.”

“As you might imagine, our dentists are deeply concerned at falling numbers of young patients accessing NHS dentistry services. The pandemic has set back the oral health of so many people and we want to be a part of the fightback.

“We wish we didn’t have to volunteer time out of hours to get this done – but in doing so we can reach out to those in need, any concerned parents or guardians can contact their nearest Clyde Munro practice to enquire about  FV clinics.”

FV application is a dental treatment that takes around 10 minutes and Clyde Munro will prioritise its practices that are within reach of many of Scotland’s more deprived communities. It will not require the parent or the child to be a registered patient. It will release dates and times of its clinics regularly on its website.

The group has 54 practices, from Orkney to the Borders and is represented in all of Scotland’s cities and many of its towns, with 400 staff supporting 460,000 patients.

Clyde Munro provides quality, affordable, general and cosmetic dentistry in well equipped, modern practices. Locations are convenient and accessible making it easy to visit the dental facilities.

Find out more about Clyde Munro at https://clydemunrodental.com/

Dentistry: Latest data highlights access crisis and widening inequalities in Scotland

The British Dental Association Scotland has called on the Scottish Government to strongly support NHS dentistry to address the large reduction in patients visiting the dentist as new data reveal further decreases in attendance and ever-widening inequalities. 
  
Registration rates remain high due to lifetime registration – over 96% of the Scottish population were registered with an NHS dentist in September 2021 – but the percentage of children registered fell from 91.4% in 2020 to 87.7% in 2021. 
  
Participation rates – contact with a dentist within the past 2 years – continued to fall during the pandemic due to ongoing restrictions imposed on dental practices. At 30 September 2021, just over half of registered patients (52.6%) had seen an NHS dentist within the last two years, a considerable reduction from almost two-thirds (65.1%) in 2020. The participation rate among children was higher than for adults (63.9% compared to 50.2%). 
  
Oral health inequalities between the most and least deprived areas in Scotland continue to grow, with the new data showing record gaps in participation rates.

In September 2008, the gap between the child participation rates for the most and least deprived areas was three percentage points; this had increased to seven percentage points by 2010, and eighteen percentage points (55.3% compared to 73.1%) in September 2021.

Similarly, in September 2008 the gap among adults was three percentage points; this had increased to six percentage points by 2010, and eleven percentage points (45.1% compared for 56.4%) in September 2021. 
  
The BDA has repeatedly warned that lower levels of participation will inevitably translate into a higher disease burden, with deep oral health inequalities expected to widen even further, given the cumulative impact of limited access to services, the suspension of public health programmes, and the impact of lockdown diets.

Lower participation will reduce the chance of picking up early signs of decay and oral cancers at routine check-ups, and delays in treatment will mean higher costs to the NHS and worse outcomes for patients. 
  
Free NHS dental care at the point of use remains a central Scottish Government policy. The stark results of a recent BDA survey showed that Scottish Government plans to revert to pre-COVID models of care risk sparking a flight of dentists from the NHS, with potentially devastating consequences for patient access across Scotland.

BDA Scotland has long warned that a return to a ‘business as usual model’ – low margin and high volume – will put practices under unsustainable financial pressure and will likely lead to closures or movement to the private sector.

BDA Scotland repeats its assertion that the Scottish Government must, in the short term, develop a suitable interim funding package to support dentists and their teams as they work through the backlog, and begin work on a new, sustainable long-term model for NHS dentistry. 

2022-01-25-dental-summaryDownload


  
Robert Donald of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Council said: 
“Today’s figures provide further evidence of the devastating effect of the pandemic on dental services. 
  
“Plummeting participation rates and the record gap in oral health inequalities present a bleak picture which will take a real commitment of time and resource to fix.  
 
“The Scottish Government needs to heed the concerns of the profession. It’s not just their signature policy of free dentistry that risks becoming unattainable. Failure to act risks sparking an exodus from the workforce that will leave families across Scotland losing access to NHS dentistry for good.”

NHS Dentistry: Scottish Government plans set to spark exodus from service

The British Dental Association has warned the Scottish Government plans to revert to pre-COVID models of care risks sparking a flight of dentists from the NHS, with potentially devastating consequences for patient access across Scotland. 

In October Cabinet Secretary Humza Yousaf wrote to all NHS dental teams that all emergency support will be withdrawn by 1 April 2022. Since the first lockdown NHS practices have operated under a COVID support package, reflecting pandemic pressures and tight infection control restrictions that continue to limit capacity across the service. 

According to a new survey of dentists in Scotland [1]:

  • 80% of dentists estimate their practices will reduce their NHS commitment should the Scottish Government withdraw emergency support and return to pre-COVID models of care. Over a third (38%) of dentists indicate they are now likely to change career or seek early retirement in the next 12 months should the policy be taken forward. 15%  say they are likely to practice dentistry outside of Scotland, and 1 in 10 estimate their practice is likely to cease operations. 
     
  • Half of dentists report that they are operating at less than 50% of pre-COVID capacity. While the Scottish Government has offered a support package to boost capacity, many practices are unwilling to commit to a broken NHS model. Over 30% say they have not applied, andamong those half (50%) say they are now unable to commit to the NHS long-term. Support for ventilation costs requires a minimum 3 year commitment to the NHS.
     
  • 9 in 10 of dentists (89%) estimate the removal of emergency funding will have a high impact on the short-medium term sustainability of their practices.

BDA Scotland have warned from the outset that a return to a ‘business as usual model’ – low margin and high volume – will put practices under unsustainable financial pressure and will likely lead to closures or movement to the private sector. Practices are facing an unprecedented backlog, with recent data from Public Health Scotland indicating that the number of treatments delivered in the year to March 2021 was less than 25% of those delivered in the previous 12-month period, corresponding to over 3.5 million appointments lost as a result of the pandemic.

NHS dental care free at the point of use remains a centrepiece SNP policy. BDA Scotland has said the Scottish Government must change course to achieve that goal, develop an interim funding package to support dentists and their teams as they work through the backlog, and begin work on a new, sustainable model for delivering care.  

David McColl, Chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee said: “Free NHS dentistry for all is a worthy ambition. Rather than exploring ways to actually achieve that goal the Scottish Government has blindly headed down a road that could destroy this service.

“COVID has slashed our capacity, yet emergency support will end. Yes, Ministers have offered some support, but with small print many practices simply could not sign up to in good conscience.

“Dentists are unwilling to be shackled to a corpse. When aid hinges on committing to an NHS model that is now frankly unsustainable it is unsurprising take up appears so modest.

“We doubt Humza Yousaf wants to be remembered as the man who killed NHS dentistry in Scotland. Without a willingness to reflect on choices made in recent weeks that risks being his legacy.”