Monday 24 Feb 2025
Unity across dentistry in calls for registrant to chair GDC
Professional bodies and specialist societies have come together to sign an open letter calling for the next General Dental Council chair to be a registrant.
Northern Ireland: Hospital dentists industrial action
Following negotiations, new pay offers have been approved by BDA Northern Ireland HDS members via three separate referendums taking place between July 2024 and January 2025.
New pay settlements approved following successful conclusion of industrial action
We have been engaged in industrial action alongside BMA to secure fair pay and contracts for all hospital dentist cohorts in Northern Ireland. Following negotiations, new pay offers have been successfully presented to, and approved by BDA Northern Ireland HDS members via three separate referendums.
Consultants
Key points of the new pay offer for Consultants (at time of offer):
- An uplift to all pay points
- The highest starting salary for consultants in the UK
- Higher pay than England at each pay point
- The highest percentage uplift in the UK this year
- Fewer pay points, reducing the time required to reach the top of the scale.
Voting on this offer took place from 31 July to 21 August 2024.
Breakdown of results
- BDA dental consultants: 65% turnout, 100% in favour of the pay offer
- BMA medical consultants: 75.1% turnout, 94.3% in favour.
Read the full details of the consultants’ pay offer.
Specialist, Associate Specialist, and Staff Grade (SAS) dentists
The offer for SAS dentists included:
- A realignment of the 2021 pay scales, lifting basic pay for all on 2021 contracts
- A consolidated £1,400 pay uplift to each pay point on the closed contracts
- A £1,400 consolidated uplift for those on pre-2008 contracts and anyone still employed on a staff grade contract
- Pay uplift backdated to 1 April 2024
- Measures to support career progression and a range of other non-pay measures
- Retention of right to promote SAS rate card for extra contractual work
Voting on this offer took place from 5 December to 18 December 2024.
Breakdown of results
- BDA SAS dentists: 57% turnout, 75% in favour
- BMA SAS members: 63.2% turnout, 94.7% in favour.
Read the full details of the SAS pay offer.
Resident doctors and trainee dentists
For 2023-24, the Department of Health has committed to an additional 4.05% pay uplift, resulting in average pay scales being 13.6% higher than in 2022-23. The uplift is effective from 1 April 2023, with arrears payable from that date.
Voting on this offer took place from 6 January to 22 January 2025.
Breakdown of results
- BDA members: 81% turnout, 92% in favour
- BMA members: 61% turnout, 94% in favour.
Read the full details of the resident doctor and trainee dentist pay offer.
The BDA continues to advocate for fair pay and improved working conditions for hospital dentists in Northern Ireland, and we will inform you of subsequent action.