Ninety six per cent of dentists in community dental services voted to accept a contract that will see their pay rise on average by 4.4 per cent and backdated to April, 2015. For the first time, community dentists in Northern Ireland will be able to access a dedicated training fund of £750 each to ensure continuous professional development in line with contracts in England and Wales.
The new contract comes in to force on April 1, 2016 after nearly seven years of lobbying with the DHSSPS NI.
Grainne Quinn, chair of the BDA’s Northern Ireland Salaried Dentists Committee, said:
“We have worked hard for a fair and progressive contract and we are delighted that it has won the overwhelming support of community dentists.
“The backdating of pay to April, 2015 is welcome news, and the introduction of an annual allowance of £750 for dedicated professional training means we are now employed on an equal footing to our colleagues in England and Wales.
“The changes that it will introduce should benefit both community dentists and the patients we treat.”