On hearing the news, we put an open letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, to ask for relief for dental practices, who – alongside GPs and care homes – appear to have been completely forgotten.
We encourage all dentists to write to your elected representatives and highlight the impact it will have on your business.
Giving weight to the cause
Already we’ve seen the tangible risks to dentistry raised in the press and in parliament, and we hope that our efforts will persuade the Government to extend this to dentistry. The voices from the coal face really help us to raise awareness and put weight to the cause.
One practice in Tyneside told us they are one of the few practices in the region who have held onto their NHS contract, in spite of the huge financial challenges they’ve faced, but they are now at a turning point. “Wes Streeting failed to mention that many small NHS dental practices (and I presume GPs) do not even qualify for any Employer's Allowance, as more than 50% of our work is for the public sector. It’s another nail in the coffin of NHS Dentistry.” they said. It’s a turn of phrase we heard from many members.
A practice in the Scottish Highlands told us they are the only practice taking on new NHS adult patients and people are queuing around the block: “We will not be able to continue as NHS practices if we do not receive support. Dental nurses are being offered more money from private dental practices and even NHS "salaried" hospital dental nursing posts. We won't be able to continue to work our socks off to match these wages.”
The pressure is also being felt in Wales, with one practice saying: “We’ve served our community since 1948. We’ve told the health board many times that the effective decrease in funding by 30% over the past 10 years is impacting our ability to continue to provide NHS care.
“We feel their attitude has been dismissive, and they even suggested we take on more private work to subsidise the NHS. With this NI hike, it is the nail in the coffin for us. It will be an ‘unintended consequence’ for Rachel Reeves, however it is a very real situation for us, the 15 members of our team and the 7000 patients that we treat.”
Another practice in Northern Ireland said they can’t afford to take on any more adults or children, but they can’t bring themselves to turn patients away. They told their Members of the Legislative Assembly: “I would welcome you to come and answer our phones at reception to explain to people in pain that we cannot help them. NHS practices are closing around us at such a rapid rate. We need a new NHS contract as an urgent matter.”
Bankruptcy and burnout
I know colleagues are angry and frustrated about this issue, especially on top of the struggles to recruit and other rising costs.
Another practice warned “The recent changes to Employers NI and raising of the living wage will lead to bankruptcy and breakdowns. We have been trying to keep our 100% NHS dental practice open under very difficult circumstances, being unable to fill our vacancy for a full-time dentist. This post has been empty since April 2023 and we can no longer go on with only one dentist and pay the bills and pay our excellent team competitive salaries.”
Many of you have said you are beyond burnout, and we do hear you.
Promises need to be kept
The powers that be need to hear from you too, and realise that goodwill and patience are running out.
Behind the scenes we are continuing to meet with MPs, MLAs, MS and MSPs to say the manifesto promises made must be kept. We are also speaking to the BMA and other stakeholders to rally support and to ensure that dentistry is not forgotten.
We need urgency and ambition to reform the NHS dental contract now, and we will not stop until ministers take action.
