Across England and Wales, many practices are facing clawback, which is set to reach record highs this year.
We are here to support you, alongside advice, our team are available to offer Extra and Expert members one-to-one support based on your individual circumstances. You can call 020 7935 0875 or
email the team for support.
Thursday 23 March 2023
16:43
England: Ministers remain asleep at the wheel as child oral health gap widens
Ministers need to step up, as the first oral health survey of 5-year-olds published since lockdown shows no improvements in decay levels and a widening gap between rich and poor.
23.7% of 5-year-old children in England had experience of obvious dentinal decay. This was a marginal increase on the previous survey of 5-year-olds in 2019, where figures stood at 23.4%.
We have been deeply concerned that ongoing and severe access problems, together with disruption to public health programmes and lockdown diets will widen these deep oral health inequalities further.
Sadly, the UK Government has done little to nothing to arrest these trends, which requires action on the high sugar foods fuelling decay. While supervised brushing programmes in nurseries and primary schools are key parts of funded national programmes in Wales and Scotland, the UK government has failed to even bring forward pledges to consult on expanding efforts in England. While measures to simplify the rollout of water fluoridation were contained in the Health and Care Act that gained royal assent in April 2022, not a single new programme has been announced.
And as we told the Health Committee on Monday, we need to see real ambition on restoring access to dental care and arresting the exodus of dentists from the NHS. Our children - indeed all our patients - deserve better.
15:19
British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2023
The British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show (BDCDS) is returning on 12 – 13 May 2023 at NEC, Birmingham.
The UK's largest dental show will host 200+ world-class speakers, 400+ leading exhibitions and 150+ hours of enhanced CPD, ensuring material for everyone on your dental team.
Register now to get you and your team a free pass and gain access to one of the biggest events in dentistry.
Wednesday 22 March 2023
16:40
Advice: one-to-one advice available for Extra and Expert members
If you're an Extra or Expert member you have access to unlimited one-to-one advice via phone or email from our team of experienced advisors.
With more than 70 years of advising dentists, our advisors are experts in the laws, contracts, and regulations of dentistry. If you're facing complex issues, we will pair you with an advisor who will handle your advice on a one-to-one basis.
Expert membership also gives you and your team all the policies, templates, and checklists you need to manage a safe, efficient, and compliant practice.
For more information on one-to-one advice, contact our Practice support team on 020 7563 4574 or email: advice.enquiries@bda.org.
Not a member? Join today.
Tuesday 21 March 2023
16:57
England: MPs told NHS dentistry is 'sinking ship'
We warned the service is reaching the end of the road in evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee inquiry into NHS dentistry today.
The Committee heard how a failed NHS contract and chronic underfunding have fuelled an exodus from the service, and that in place of reform government has delivered mere tweaks to the system without a penny of new investment.
General Dental Practice Committee Chair Shawn Charlwood stressed that the situation can be turned around, but recent marginal changes do not come close to a reformed contract.
"This really isn't rocket science" Shawn said. "Improve the terms and conditions, increase commitment through sustainable funding, and we will have NHS dentists again."
09:34
England: We’re in WestminsterThis morning we are giving evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee.
The hearing should begin at 10am.
You can watch live on
parliamentlive.tv
Monday 20 March 2023
14:03
Scotland: Delay on revised SDR
Minister for Public Health Maree Todd MSP has just confirmed delay to showcasing the revised Statement of Dental Remuneration.
Practices were expecting updates before the start of the next NHS financial year on 1 April.
This only underlines our case that reform must be a top priority in the first hundred days of the next administration.
12:21
England: Lib Dems pledge to fix NHS dentistryWe were pleased to see the Liberal Democrats become the first UK political party to commit fixing NHS dentistry.
A resolution passed at their spring conference in York this weekend commits them to a policy of reforming NHS dental services contract and increasing funding.
We work with politicians from across the political spectrum, and we welcome the leadership shown by the party.
This crisis is hitting millions across every UK nation. Every party has a responsibility to set out a plan.
09:17
England: Ministers have moral duty to act on access crisis in care homes
The
latest research from the Care Quality Commission reveals a collapse in access to NHS dentistry among care home residents.
Feedback from care homes indicates that since 2019, and the onset of lockdown, the proportion of residents never accessing NHS dental care routinely has grown from 6% to 25%.
We have been calling for a revolution in dentistry in care homes since the CQC published their first report in 2019 – but real progress secured now appears to be at risk.
Sadly news reaches us both the Department of Health and NHS England have declined to even comment on the report. These vulnerable patients require more than words. They need action.
