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Cash injection for NHS surgeries
8th Jun 2006
The Government has announced a £100m boost for NHS dental surgeries. The cash will be made available to practices across the country to refurbish old and dilapidated premises and modernise equipment. Details of the scheme have not been finalised but the Department of Health (DoH) said that dentists would be invited to contact their Strategic Health Authorities to find out how the money would be allocated. The capital allocations will be strictly for one-off investments in buildings, equipment and facilities. They will not be used to support revenue expenditures such as salaries, supplies and services and will not affect funding to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). The two-year funding scheme for surgeries follows the announcement in 2004 of an £80m four-year capital investment programme to modernise dental schools. Health minister Rosie Winterton, unveiling the new funding package at the British Dental Association (BDA) conference in Birmingham said: ‘I have visited many dental practices over the last three years, some of which would clearly benefit from modernising their premises or upgrading their equipment. ‘These dentists are providing services of a high quality but working in environments which could be improved with greater capital investment. I want this money to help upgrade these premises not only to provide a better working environment for dentists, but also to improve services for patients. ‘This announcement is a clear sign of the Government's continuing commitment to improving NHS dental services. ‘We recently introduced the biggest reforms to NHS dentistry since it began, which are allowing PCTs to develop dental services to reflect local needs. This £100m capital investment programme will further support these important reforms.’ Dr Susie Sanderson, chairwoman of the BDA's executive board, gave the announcement a cautious welcome. She said: ‘The minister's announcement of capital funding comes after years of chronic under-investment and we will be watching closely how and where the money is spent.’ But Sandra Gidley MP, Liberal Democrat shadow health minister, accused Ms Winterton of buying off critics and failing to address the real problems in the industry. Mrs Gidley said: ‘The problem with NHS dentistry is not the quality of environment. ‘Figures show fewer and fewer people can even access NHS dentists. The Government have failed to make NHS dentistry what it should be - a universal, comprehensive service that provides ongoing dental care to everyone who needs it. ‘It's no surprise that Rosie Winterton made this announcement on the day she addressed the BDA conference. ‘Could this be a crude attempt by her department to save her the embarrassment of being heckled off stage?’
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