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Scotland crisis
10th Nov 2005
The dental crisis in Scotland's National Health Service deepened this month, as dentists rejected a £295m deal. For it would have forced them to treat a set number of NHS patients, as well as children. Huge numbers of Scots have had to re-register as private patients after their dental practice opted out of the health service. Scotland's Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said he was disappointed that agreement on the Dental Action Plan had not been achieved. ‘Earlier this year, we put a package of measures on the table which will be worth tens of thousands of pounds for each dentist who is committed to the NHS. ‘I have now met with the BDA to discuss NHS commitment which has been the main stumbling block in our negotiations. What we could not resolve in the meeting is how that commitment is defined. Our view is that a commited NHS dentist is one who treats both children and adults. ‘The BDA do not agree. They want dentists who have de-registered NHS patients to get access to this money. ‘We want to reward dentists for the commitment they show to the NHS and to their patients: but we must ensure public money goes to NHS dentists, not to those who have opted out. To reward dentists who have de-registered adult NHS patients would be letting down committed NHS dentists.’ But Dr Andrew Lamb, director of the BDA in Scotland, said the Executive was putting the country's dental health in jeopardy by removing the ability for dentists to see only children or those exempt from NHS charges. He said: ‘The levels of funding and investment available for NHS dentistry in Scotland are not sufficient to provide for a universal comprehensive service for all. Because of this, many dentists opt to see children or exempt patients as a way of retaining commitment to the NHS.’ He went on: ‘It seems a pity that the health department has failed to show a similar commitment, but rather seems hell-bent on exhausting the goodwill of dentists in Scotland.’ The two sides are due to meet again in two weeks.
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