Fair pay and contracts

Pay

High street NHS dentists have seen a fall in real incomes with no parallel in the public sector. This collapse in pay is putting a struggling workforce under huge pressure, and fuelling an access crisis.

Contract reform

Discredited contracts are fuelling an exodus from the NHS. The payments they receive often bare little relation to the work they do, and some treatments can be delivered at a financial loss. These systems fail high needs patients, who require and deserve more time in the chair.

Pensions

We lobby governments to get a fairer deal on pensions.

Dental Recovery Plan FAQs

Members can access our frequently asked questions, helping you to gain an understanding of the Dental Recovery Plan and what it means for dentists and practices.

Browse FAQs

Industrial action

We campaign for fair pay for all dentists, from negotiating with UK Governments to organising strike action when other routes have been exhausted. Find out about upcoming industrial action and how you can participate.

Find out more

Campaigners make a noise with a loudhailer

Latest news

Changes to BDA fees guide for members

We have updated the BDA fees guide for members in Scotland.

Scotland: Payment reform update

Since payment reform was introduced on 1 November 2023, we have continued to engage with the Scottish Government and have provided feedback on the changes.

Northern Ireland: We urge Health Minister to include dentists in imminent negotiations on pay

Now Stormont is back, we have written to Health Minister Robin Swann outlining the mounting pay issues impacting dentistry.

DoH urged to re-invest underspend into stabilising GDS

Ciara Gallagher, Chair of the Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee has written to the Director of Primary Care, Gearóid Cassidy regarding proposals for the General Dental Service (GDS).

Welsh Government offer 5% GDS uplift for 2023-24

Following extensive negotiations over the autumn with the Primary Care Division of Welsh Government, we have achieved the best offer possible of a 5% uplift on the GDS contract value this financial year.

Health Service dentistry has run out of road

An update on our meeting with the Department of Health (DoH) in Northern Ireland to discuss the worsening outlook for Health Service dentistry, and a range of workforce issues heavily impacting the profession.

Flexible commissioning offers new framework with same old problems

NHS England's new framework on flexible commissioning has worthy aspirations to make the NHS more attractive to dentists and improve patient care, but a failed, underfunded contract will act as a brake on progress.

Contract uplift to be implemented in next payments

The 5.13% uplift to GDS contracts in England will be implemented in the next payment schedule.

What is next for payment reform?

The next steps in the process to payment reform implementation have been outlined by the Scottish Government.

Juniors back pay deal

Junior doctors and dentists in training in Scotland have voted decisively to accept the latest pay offer from the Scottish Government.

Hospital dentists committee secures extra £14k for senior dental trainees

We can now confirm that nodal point 5 will apply from ST4/ST5 for dental training pathways from 1 April 2022 rather than 1 April 2023.

What does payment reform mean for you

It’s change, but not wholesale reform for Scotland as a new Determination I of the Statement of Dental Remuneration (SDR) lands.