Dental news

RSS Feed

View by: Most Recent | Most Popular | Most Discussed

New government faces major challenges on dentistry, says BDA manifesto

Recommend on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Email this story

Email this story

Message (option)

Share this story

> Other stories

Dentistry is failing older patients

Key dental faces rewarded in new year honours

Cost may quash fluoride plans

Young dentists elect new leaders

Susie Sanderson

The BDA suggests the next government will inherit a flawed dental contract, an unacceptable chasm in oral health inequalities, and inconsistent commissioning of dentistry by PCTS.

That's the legacy the government elected this year will have to deal with, according to the British Dental Association's (BDA's) manifesto for the forthcoming General Election, Smiles all round, which is published today (Monday 8 March).
 
The manifesto warns that the next government must get to grips with the process of developing new contractual arrangements based on the recommendations of the Steele Review, and do so while at the same time increasing access to NHS dental care and contending with an already stretched public purse.
 
Launching the manifesto, BDA executive board chair Dr Susie Sanderson said: 'Whoever is elected this year will inherit major challenges in dentistry. In England, we still have a deeply flawed dental contract, patients who are not seeing a dentist, and significant variations in the commissioning skills of primary care trusts. We are also confronted by unacceptable and growing oral health inequalities.
 
'But they will also inherit the beginnings of a new contract and a profession that cares deeply for its patients and that desperately wants a better future for them. The new government must work closely with dentists on the priorities identified in the BDA's manifesto to overcome these challenges.'
 
The BDA is urging members to talk to candidates where they practise about local issues.

The BDA's manifesto and advice on local lobbying are available at: www.bda.org/manifesto.

The manifesto identifies priorities in six key areas of dental policy: the completion of the reform process arising from the Steele Review, the need to properly support PCTs, increased access for patients, the eradication or oral health inequalities, harnessing fluoride as a preventive measure, and safeguarding the future of the hospital and salaried services and dental academia.

Rate this story

and the biggest problem is the bda being weak

Posted by steve 8/3/10 at 18:35

Not to say, as useful as a chocolate fireguard, steve. I've put my thoughts onto the comments bit on the PCT survey. I've long ago given-up on the BDA. Can you even in your wildest dreams imagine them 'playing a blinder' like the BMA did with GMP contracts? Not on your nelly.

Posted by drstephenmorris 9/3/10 at 00:48

The whole UDA system needs to be abolished. You can not deliver good quality Dentistry when you get 60-70 pounds for a molar endo. Jimmy Steele review even if fully implemented will not solve the inherent problems with the UDA system. The BDA has a weak leadership.

Posted by Frasse 9/3/10 at 00:47

after 30 yrs of dentistry and listening to dentists whinge about the nhs and every contract that has been introduced,you have to face the inevitable conclusion that it is the dentists who have allowed this situation to develop.They are for the most part insecure cowards who if they had any guts would walk away from the nhs-man up!

Posted by gordie 15/3/10 at 09:53

Gordie. Could not agree with you more. You are absolutely right. The only problem is that there are enough greedy, back stabbing colleague there to fill the void. There are many carrots and a few sticks (at the moment) in this contract (that is how the DOH managed to get so many Dentists to sign it) Many providers have done extremely well during this past 4 years. The price they had to pay was to give up their professional integrity. A bit like selling your soul to the devil. Admire the ones who had the courage and means to leave this shambolic system. (As it is for me i am just a performer only selling half of my soul to the devil, so probably there is still some hope for me) Emigration?

Posted by Frasse 16/3/10 at 01:23

Problem with our profession is that we do not stick together, and neither does every dentist join the BDA. I agree with Gordie and Frasse, if there had been unity in the profession we could get somewhere. Government won when those dentists took on the contract at the begining......Divided and conquer,,,
It can't be blamed on the BDA as it does alot for the profession. Its us who are weak. we can't even stand up and stand together..,so blame those who sold us out with the PCTs right at the begiining of this nightmare

Posted by shazzie 16/3/10 at 11:01

20 years ago a local dentist at the time of the first "new contract" got all the local dentists together -90% turned up. It was agreed not to take on new nhs patients.Within two weeks adverts were appearing in the local press from the other 10% advertising "new nhs patients welcome" You have no chance of getting dentists to act together!!! It has to be done by the BDA and at present there's no chance of that.The pressure needs to be put on them by us,but don't hold your breath.

Posted by gordie 18/3/10 at 11:13