Friday 30 September 2022
11:32
Template: Adverse incidents update
We have updated our
template protocol for reporting and managing incidents
and near misses in your dental practice.
In line with Duty of Candour obligations practices should encourage openness and honesty at all levels. Patient safety must be taken seriously, and it is important to ensure that any incidents are kept to a minimum.
Our full range of practice templates, checklists and audits are available to Expert members. To access our full range of services you can
join online or call 020 7563 4550.
Thursday 29 September 2022
16:37
Northern Ireland: New Conscious Sedation Guidelines
The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has
endorsed the
third edition of SDCEP Conscious Sedation in Dentistry. The guidance applies to both inhalation sedation and intravenous sedation techniques.
The guidance will be effective from 1 November 2022. RQIA will amend their inspection methodology to reflect the guidance for inspections from 1 December onwards.
15:33
DHSC survey on indemnity cover
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is interested in hearing the views of healthcare professionals about discretionary indemnity cover and regulated insurance. Dentists and dental care professionals are invited to
share their views.
13:16
England: Changes to the FP17 from 1 October
From 1 October, amendments will be implemented to the FP17 to facilitate the submission of claims in relation to treatment completed by dental therapists and others. Where practices are wishing to make use of this, they should ensure that they have appropriate conversations with staff around competence, confidence, and any necessary training. DCPs should only undertake work that is within their scope of practice, which they are trained and competent to do.
Patients should be informed that they will not be seen by a dentist. Dentists and DCPs may wish to also consult their indemnity provider to ensure that proper arrangements are in place. BDA Extra and Expert members can also contact our Advice Team for guidance.
There will also be changes to the FP17’s clinical dataset to support the personalisation of recall intervals and the payment of additional UDAs for band 2 treatments. However, while data relating to the latter will be collected from this date, the payment of additional UDAs will not come into effect until regulatory changes are agreed by Parliament.
We have recently responded to a consultation on these regulatory changes, and we hope that NHS England and the DHSC will be able to ensure that they are implemented as soon as feasible. As the update indicates, it is expected that this will be from the end of November.
We have asked NHS England for the additional UDAs to be backdated to 1 October, but it is our understanding that this will not be legally possible and the additional UDAs will only apply to courses of treatment opened after the regulations come into effect. This is a matter that requires clarity from NHS England to give dentists certainty about the claims they are submitting going forward.
Contracts with a UDA value below £23 per UDA should already have received communication about the increasing of their UDA value to £23 and this will apply from 1 October onwards.
Members can access a recording of our recent
webinar on NHS contractual changes in England, for free. Look out for a new question and answer session about the new marginal changes, coming very soon.
08:31
Accredited representatives' annual conference
Our accredited representatives, who support employed dentist members in community and public health settings, meet today for their annual conference.
27 motions which seek to improve terms and conditions for the CDS and PDS have been submitted for discussion.
Find out about the
support available to members in these fields
.
Wednesday 28 September 2022
13:40
Talking about suicide in the workplace
The stigma around suicidal thoughts and feelings can make it a difficult subject to talk about, especially in the workplace.
If you, a colleague, or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts it can seem frightening and you may not know how to help. It's important to know that you are not alone.
We have a range of
resources available on our website to support conversations about suicidal thoughts and feelings. All our members also have access to Health Assured, a confidential service offering expert advice on suicide prevention.
Tuesday 27 September 2022
12:01
Your thoughts on 'safer sharps' for the HSE
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reviewing the
legislation which introduced the use of "safer sharps".
As a part of that review process, the HSE is gathering feedback so it can ensure that the regulations are meeting workplace needs effectively and members have been asked about their views on how things are working.
Please
use this link to provide feedback (closes 30 September) - it only takes 5-10 minutes and it will ensure that your views are heard.
10:29
BDA Good Practice: our quality assurance scheme
Do you own or work for a dental practice operating in the United Kingdom and want to learn more about BDA Good Practice?
Our quality assurance scheme allows its members to communicate to patients an ongoing commitment to working to standards of good practice on professional and legal responsibilities. Members have access to advice and practice resources, exclusive courses to help grow a confident team, marketing materials to promote your practice, templates to help you engage with your patient base and to obtain positive reviews and much more.
Subscribe to our mailing list, to learn more about the scheme or contact goodpractice@bda.org and someone from the team will get in touch.
Monday 26 September 2022
15:01
What dentists need to know about the 2022 'mini-budget'
On Friday the new Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng MP, launched the Government's 'Growth Plan 2022', which is effectively a mini-budget.
Here are the key points which might be of interest to you:
The Chancellor confirmed that the Energy Bill Relief Scheme would place a temporary six-month cap on energy prices for businesses starting from October. A decision on whether or not to extend this scheme for particularly vulnerable businesses beyond March 2023 will be made in three months' time, and we will argue that – in the light of wider rising dental costs – dental practices should be included in any ongoing future support.
The Government will cut income tax from 20% to 19% from April 2023. The top rate of income tax – the 45% rate for earnings over £150,000 – is being abolished altogether, with a single higher rate of 40%. For those operating via a limited company, the planned rise in corporation tax from 19% to 25% has been cancelled.
This year's 1.25% point rise in National Insurance and its replacement – the Health and Social Care Levy which was planned for April 2023 – will be cancelled.
No detail has been offered on the future funding of the NHS, and in particular the impact the abolition of the Health and Social Care Levy might have on health budgets.
We will continue to argue that the Government's ambition to tackle the crisis in dentistry cannot be realized without the Treasury committing adequate funding to reverse the years of savage cuts, and underpin a reform and rebuild of the sector.
