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New survey reveals all
23rd Jun 2006
Eighty per cent of dentists say there have yet to see evidence of more NHS dentistry for patients says a new survey. Revealing the results at the Local Dental Commitees Conference (LDCC) last week, senior policy officer, Dan Berry said there is still little evidence from primary care trusts (PCTs) and local health boards (LHBs) of the ‘growth’ funding required to provide more NHS dentistry. The survey of the secretaries of local dental committees (LDCs), shows that many dentists remain unhappy with their new contracts. Three out of five contracts were signed in dispute by dentists in their area and have yet to be resolved. And there are only two out of five contracts that have been resolved satisfactorily. One tenth of respondents have refused point blank to sign the contract. Most LDC secretaries reported satisfactory working relationships with their PCTs and LHBs. Nine out of ten of them said they have regular contact, while two-thirds described their relations as very good or good. Patients appear to be ‘resigned’ to going private. In his speech to the annual LDC conference in London, chair of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee Dr Lester Ellman told delegates: ‘These results reflect the continuing uncertainty facing dentists and patients across the country, and a lack of confidence about the future of NHS dentistry. We’ve been told there’s growth money to provide more NHS dentistry, but according to dentists on the frontline, it has yet to materialise. ‘As the Government reviews the impact of its changes on patients, these issues of a lack of growth funding and increased access for patients must be addressed.’
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