DRS RIP

The dental profession is about to enter a whole new era – yet again! Those of us involved in NHS dentistry are preparing to face significant changes in how we are remunerated and monitored. The new series of NHS pilots allocated by PCTs – based on Prof Jimmy Steele’s report – are due to start. There will be the inevitable difficulties, improbabilities and inaccuracies revealed – that’s why you have pilots? Dentists are business people as well as dental health care professionals and they will surely make them work.

The immediate future looks very uncertain with PCT s (you either love or hate them) being disbanded and our ‘colleagues in arms’ the GPs allegedly holding the purse strings. The General Dental Council and the Care Quality Commission (both universally mistrusted) are there to advise, monitor and police this  potential  tower of paperwork. They will respond to patient complaints and PCT issues to ensure that the treatment is being provided honestly, ethically and is in the best interests of the patient.