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Government funding a no-show says the BDA
4th Jul 2006
Government funding needed to increase the availability of NHS dentistry since the signing of the new contract has failed to materialise, according to the British Dental Association (BDA). The BDA conducted a survey asking the secretaries of the Local Dental Committees for their views on the new contract. Eighty per cent of respondents said they had seen no evidence of the government funding needed to provide more NHS dentistry to patients. Their responses also showed that only two out of every five contracts that were signed in dispute have had the issues surrounding them resolved to the dentist’s satisfaction. Dr Lester Ellman, chairman of the BDA’s General Dental Practice Committee, said: ‘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.’ The survey also showed that two thirds of LDC secretaries enjoy a good relationship with their Primary Care Trust or Local Health Board. Nine out of ten also said they had regular contact with them. Seventy-two of the 107 LDCs in England and Wales took part in the survey. The committees are consulted about issues of local interest by PCTs and LHBs and serve to represent NHS dentists who work within the LDC’s boundary.
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