The BDA is suspending planned industrial action for 26-28 January.
The news comes in support of the BMA, as it seeks to rekindle talks to resolve the differences over the proposed new contract for hospital juniors in England.
The BDA has been supporting hospital junior dentist members to ensure a safe and fair junior contract is put in place.
Balloted BDA members took action last week, protesting against the erosion of patient safety and the potential impact on dentists working lives.
The BDA is following the BMA’s lead in disputing the proposed contract, as it feel’s it removes vital safeguards for both dentists and their patients.
Protecting dentists
The BDA said: ‘We want to ensure dentists are protected from being required to work excessive hours in a week.
‘We oppose the plans for the extension of standard time from the current 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday to 7am to 10pm, Monday to Saturday, as we don’t feel this values dentists’ time appropriately.
‘We also object to the proposals on pay progression, which may mean some dentists are discouraged from entering specialist training, due to the plans to make pay rise only when a trainee moves to the next stage of training and responsibility.
‘We feel this particularly disadvantages those with families, because of the financial worries of taking time out of training for maternity leave or to work part time.
‘It will also discourage those already in training from undertaking research or retraining in a preferred specialty, to the long-term detriment of the NHS.’
Further action for a full withdrawal of labour is still planned for Wednesday 10 February.
