Graham comments...
Led by Professor Jimmy Steele, he has appointed a team to examine issues such as variations in access to NHS dental services, how to improve both access and the quality of care, the provision of preventative care, as well as related matters such as workforce planning and treatment trends. The review team are expected to report back shortly.
I know it’s a vain hope, but, would it not be refreshing for the report to say that clearly the NHS dental budget is limited and therefore, cannot fully meet the dental needs and expectations of the entire population? Consequently, limited state resources need to be targeted on vulnerable groups such as children, the poor and elderly and the interface between state and private care clearly defined, so that seamless quality care is provided to all.
There are many things wrong with the design and structure of the New Contract, but the fundamental flaw is in the policy making process, which is based on the erroneous assumption that everyone should have access to NHS dentistry, whenever they need it. Why should they?
In many other countries in Europe, restrictions are placed on who can have access to state funded dentistry, and these countries are not poor. For example, in Norway, which is now the wealthiest nation in Europe and has an excellent welfare system, state funded dentistry is only available to the groups identified earlier and it is accepted as a matter of common sense. Norway is not alone in adopting such an approach, Holland also places financial restrictions on who can access state funded dentistry.
If the report was to be “courageous” enough to centre on this factor, and I do not think for a second that it will, then the reaction of the politicians might be very interesting. With a general election due within the next year and savage public expenditure cuts certain after that, what do you think their response might be, fear or relief?
Whatever happens, the next two to three years look set to be very interesting.
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