Future of NHS dentistry

20 January 2015
Volume 30 · Issue 5

Today the Department of Health has issued a request for expressions of interest in two “prototypes” for a reformed NHS dental contract in England.

Nearly four years after piloting began, and almost six years since Professor Jimmy Steele published his response to criticism of the ill-fated (but now long endured) 2006 contract, it is questionable how much progress is being made.

 

Roger Matthews, Chief Dental Officer at Denplan, commented:

 “At a time when the parlous state of  current and future NHS resource is under daily scrutiny dentists may wonder why it has taken nearly nine years to arrive at a point where yet further experiment is announced.

 

“Steele stated that his review offered a “firm basis” for future policy, but the prototypes are a long way from what he envisaged. The delay has accompanied many changes in the wider NHS, increasing frustration for the dental profession, and most importantly, little clarity for patients about what NHS dentistry offers and how to find it.

 

“The call for expressions of interest offers little choice in reality:  one alternative is almost the same as the current system, whilst the other is at best a watered-down version of Steele’s proposals.

 

“With a capped budget, and aspirations to improve access still further, either option is only a future promise – in real monetary terms for intending participants – of lower values and greater challenges.

 

“With the future of NHS dentistry continually hanging in the balance, we would encourage practices to consider making the transition to private dentistry.  At Denplan we have many years of experience in supporting NHS dentists in making this transition; we only have to look back to 2006, when we helped hundreds of dentists make the switch during the last major NHS reforms.

 

“Denplan ‘Principal only Transitions’ give dentists the option to retain NHS patients whilst benefitting from all the support and experience they need to choose the right payment plan for them, the practice and their patients. We will continue to support dentists, helping them gain more control over their practice and giving them the clinical freedom to care for patients in the way that they feel is best.”