Our dental news feed will be regularly updated to help you stay informed and keep up-to-date with everything that's happening in the industry.
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Today (10 May) NHS England launched its ‘golden hello’ recruitment scheme – hear from MP Andrea Leadsom on the £20,000 bonus for dentists in under-served areas.
In a story based upon its own analysis, the Financial Times has concluded that £150 million of the dental budget remains unspent and that it was also experiencing a “recruitment crisis.”
We are calling on NHS England to extend its recently updated miscarriage policy for NHS GDPs.
NHS dentists in England returned almost £150 million worth of government funding last year after failing to meet their treatment targets. Read more
A leading dentist has urged political parties to prioritise NHS dentistry in their upcoming election manifestos. Read more
The government is looking into ‘non-van solutions’ to the dental access crisis despite pledging a fleet of mobile clinics in the NHS dental recovery plan. In a document on the government website, it reports ‘limited availability’ of both dental vans and the required workforce to run them. Read more
Labour Party data shows that more than 4.7 million people have called the NHS 111 helpline for issues relating to dental health since 2019. Read more
A mother from Ukraine has said she will return to the country in order to get dental treatment due to access troubles in the UK. According to a BBC report, the 36 year old said she was in ‘excruciating’ pain – but struggled to access NHS dentistry and could not afford private… Read more
Public satisfaction with the NHS has dropped again, setting a new low recorded by the long-running British Social Attitudes survey. Just 24% said they were satisfied with the NHS in 2023, with waiting times and staff shortages the biggest concerns. Read more
The British Dental Association has backed Yasmin Qureshi MP as she exposed Secretary of State Victoria Atkins for misleading the House with inaccurate claims that the Government’s so-called ‘Recovery Plan’ for NHS dentistry is funded by £200m in ‘new’ money. Read more
The government gave ‘evasive and inaccurate answers’ regarding NHS dentistry at today’s Health and Social Care Committee hearing, the profession has said. This is according to the British Dental Association (BDA), which had representatives attend the meeting. Read more
Two thirds of the public believe NHS dental services to be in crisis, with the majority wanting more government investment in dentistry. Read more
Only 15% of dental practices are fully NHS, according to new statistics, while three in five dentists work 30 hours or less each week. Read more
The profession is calling for new funds for NHS dentistry in light of the recent increase in patient charges. The British Dental Association Wales has said the Welsh government’s ‘unprecedented’ increase in charges for NHS dentistry must protect vulnerable patients and calls for new funds to secure a more sustainable… Read more
The British Dental Association (BDA) has lamented the announcement of an increase in NHS patient charges. It stressed the hike will not help improve the dental budget. Read more
Experts from across the dental profession and government discuss their views on the new patient premium announced as part of the dental recovery plan. Read more
The government is considering plans to allow dentists from abroad to work without taking an exam to check their education and skills. The proposal, which is subject to a three-month consultation, aims to address the severe shortage of NHS dentists. Read more
With government backbenchers and Reform Party leaders trying to pin the crisis in dentistry on migrants, we’ve spelled out the facts. Read more
Prime minister Rishi Sunak visited a practice following the announcement of the new dental recovery plan – but it is unable to take on new adult NHS patients, it has been revealed. Read more
Details of the long-awaited NHS dentistry recovery plan have been released – here’s all you need to know so far. Read more
Police in Bristol were recorded breaking up queues of people who were attempting to access NHS dental care in the city. The British Dental Association has warned that current government policies will not ease the crisis in NHS dentistry, following unprecedented scenes in Bristol as police attempted to turn away… Read more
With millions struggling to access care, Government spending on NHS dentistry has seen the biggest annual cut in decades, according to accounts set before parliament today. Read more
Following today’s European Parliament vote to ban dental amalgam from 1 January 2025, the profession has warned of the impact on UK dental services. Silver amalgam is currently the most common material for NHS permanent fillings across the UK. Fillings represent around a quarter of all courses of NHS treatment… Read more
The government has been criticised for its treatment of NHS dentistry, with the Labour opposition predicting ‘further neglect, decline and patients made to go without’. Read more
British Dental Association has lamented the wholesale lack of clarity from Government over plans to save NHS dentistry. Read more
Margaret Greenwood MP is calling on the government to develop a comprehensive national children’s oral health strategy to reduce waiting times and focus on targeted preventive measures, early intervention and improved access to high-quality dental care for all children, regardless of socioeconomic status or location. Read more
The government has said a recovery plan for NHS dentistry will be published in 2024 – but failed to commit to a date. In response to the Commons Liaison Committee yesterday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the recovery plan will arrive next year. Read more
The traditional model of NHS dentistry is gone for good, experts are warning. The Nuffield Trust think tank said the service had been cut back so much it was now at the most perilous position in its 75-year history in England. Read more
The Government has now responded to the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee inquiry into NHS dentistry, held in the summer. According to the UK Parliament website the Government has accepted the “majority of MP’s recommendations on NHS dentistry”. Read more
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A dental clinic in Harrogate has announced it is reducing its NHS provision from 2024 due to financial issues. Letters were sent to patients by Pannal Dental Clinic (PDC) to inform them of the new arrangements. Read more
The British Dental Association has condemned moves in the Autumn Statement that could withdraw free dental care from the long-term sick, while offering no additional resource to support the rebuild of NHS dentistry. Under the government’s new Back to Work Plan, announced in today’s Autumn Statement, welfare claimants who refuse… Read more
The dental profession has slammed upcoming proposals that will form part of this week’s Autumn Budget to limit access to free dentistry for the unemployed. According to new plans by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, welfare claimants who ‘refuse’ to engage with their jobcentre or take work offered to them may lose… Read more
Record numbers of patients are complaining to the NHS Ombudsman about poor care, exorbitant fees and difficulty getting treatment from NHS dental services in England. Read more
British Dental Association has said figures from the Labour Party on the nearly 70,000 patients who sought dental care in emergency departments last year are just the tip of the iceberg, and that the access crisis in dentistry is being felt in all corners of the health service. Read more
British Dental Association has said the success of reform in NHS dentistry will hinge on appropriate funding. It follows comments by Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting that across the NHS “reform is more important than investment.” Read more
The stands are barely dismantled from the Conservative party conference in Manchester, but the day after the Prime Minister’s attempt to relaunch his administration, Labour has made its first policy pledge ahead of their own conference. Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to end the “horror stories” of DIY dentistry. Read more
The British Dental Association (BDA) took to the Conservative Party Conference today to stress the ‘ailing’ state of NHS dentistry to the delegates. Read more
Despite the fact that it will mean 4,500 patients in and around a Cornish town losing their dentist, a new pilot - which is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the country - has been welcomed at a time when NHS dentistry faces a national crisis. Read more
New data from the Liberal Democrats has shown that more than 4.4 million children in England were not seen by an NHS dentist in the last 12 months. The research was commissioned by the House of Commons Library and focused on the 12 months leading up to June 2023. It… Read more
Following the NHS Dental Statistics 2022/23 published today, the British Dental Association (BDA) has warned that there is no prospect of NHS dentistry returning to pre-COVID-19 levels without radical reform. Read more
Scotland's national clinical director has said he is concerned about winter amid a summer upswing in Covid cases. Read more
The government’s new NHS Workforce Plan has no mention of dental technicians or clinical dental technicians despite the challenges labs are facing with recruitment. Read more
Faversham Smiles saw over 100 people queue outside their door, after they announced they could take on 60 new NHS patients... Read more
The profession has argued that reforms to NHS dentistry in Scotland fall short of the changes required to make the service. Read more
The Health Secretary quoted inaccurate figures on the number of dentists carrying out NHS dentistry, sparking calls for better data. Read more
More than six million adults failed to get an NHS dental appointment in the last two years, statistics suggest. Read more
Dental professionals have warned that dental associates and dental nurses are being forgotten as talks considering dental reform continue. Read more
Members of Parliament call for ‘rapid and timely action’ as they lay out their concerns over the future of NHS dentistry services in a new report. Read more
The Prime Minister forgot the name for dental therapists last week after suggesting they take up more dental work to relieve NHS dentistry access issues. Read more
The media narrative of dental deserts appears to have been replaced by dental detention centres. Read more
Professionals have warned that the COVID-19 pandemic led to an ‘unparalleled impact’ on NHS dentistry in Scotland, leaving the service facing an existential threat. Read more
NHS England has said it will review existing guidance in light of the GDC versus Williams appeal judgement. Read more
In what marks a first the General Dental Council has gone on the record stating bringing in more dentists will not solve problems fuelled by broken contracts. Read more
A mobile dental clinic has been offering NHS dentist appointments to Cornwall people. Read more
NHS England began their statement announcing the Chief Dental Officer’s departure with the emphasis on the next stage of her career. Rather than lead with her past Read more
The number of active NHS dentists in England is at its lowest level in a decade, official figures show, as pressure mounts for urgent reform. Read more
Following the High Court’s ruling that charging top-up fees is permitted, Neel Kothari discusses why this is a ‘disaster’ for NHS England and the consequences it will have for the profession. Read more
The recent 8.5% increase in NHS dental charges has attracted bitter criticism from the BDA, not least because none of the money raised will benefit providers or fund improvements to the service. Put simply, patients are being asked to pay more so that government can pay less. Read more
This service will only survive with fair funding and real reform. It’s been a week like no other. Over the course of 24 hours I found myself travelling from Birmingham to Manchester and down to Westminster, racing between TV studios and Committee rooms, to hold this government to account on… Read more
The British Dental Association has urged parliament to set out a clear roadmap to reform for government after it tried to ‘defend the indefensible’. Read more
Current costs are leaving one quarter of patients delaying or avoiding treatment, according to new statistics. Read more
A woman who extracted her own teeth because she couldn't find an NHS dentist says crowdfunding a new set of dentures has transformed her life. On Tuesday afternoon, MPs will question dental experts from NHS England as part of an official inquiry prompted by a BBC investigation into the dentistry… Read more
Dental deserts are on the rise, but the BDA have warned that the true scale of the exodus from the NHS is going untracked in official figures. New research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats shows why so many people are struggling to get an appointment, with some areas now having… Read more
As one in four Brits struggle to get or afford a dentist appointment, Mirror writer Nia Dalton goes behind-the-scenes at Shard End Dental Practice to see the daily pressures NHS dental staff face Read more
Dentists in Scotland have put together an open letter asking the new First Minister, Humza Yousaf, to act quickly on NHS dentistry. In the letter, the British Dental Association (BDA) calls for a sustainable funding model to be put in place by October. Read more
The BDA and BUPA colleagues have now confirmed the rumour which had recently begun circulating, that BUPA are planning to dispose of 85 of their dental practices. Read more
Yesterday the government confirmed an 8.5% increase in patient charges. It’s an inexcusable approach during a cost-of-living crisis, and won’t put an extra penny into a cash-strapped service. Read more
Ministers need to step up, as the first oral health survey of 5-year-olds published since lockdown shows no improvements in decay levels and a widening gap between rich and poor. Read more
This morning, the Health and Social Care Committee received ‘brutally honest’ oral evidence on the state of NHS dentistry from dental leaders. MPs heard the facts about the state of NHS dentistry this morning. Read more
We've warned the Scottish Government the future of NHS dentistry is now in doubt and the next First Minister must take urgent action. Our latest survey of General Dental Practitioners across Scotland shows over half (59%) report having reduced the amount of NHS work they do since lockdown. Now over… Read more
World-famous children’s hospital, Great Ormand Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GOSH), have been unable to recruit paediatric dental consultants for at least two years. A new report by Health Education England suggests that this has led to trainee doctors going unsupervised. Read more
Dentists in the UK could be offered ‘financial incentives’ to relocate to Northumberland to improve treatment availability. Berwick-upon-Tweed has seen two NHS dental practices close since the onset of the pandemic. Read more
Both the government and the opposition need to step up and offer a plan, as the results from our latest survey reveal over half of dentists in England (50.3%) report having reduced NHS commitments since the start of the pandemic. Read more
Every child in the UK is entitled to free treatment by a nonexistent dentist. Some people on benefits, pregnant women and those who have recently given birth also have free and full access to an imaginary service. Your rights are guaranteed, up to the point at which you seek to exercise them. Read more
NHS Pensions is working to make the pension system more flexible according to a letter sent out to the dentists. Read more
Our recent research published in the latest BDJ, shows the total debt of final year dental students and recent dental graduates has more than doubled, from £24,734 in 2013 to £52,922 in 2022. Read more
NHS dentistry in Wales could disappear, the British Dental Association has warned. Dentists have described being on the brink of handing back NHS contracts due to stress and concerns about patients' care after changes in Wales. Read more
The distress of patients in pain trying to access NHS dentistry are a factor of daily life for most who work in the profession, with even fully private practices fielding calls from patients desperate to find a dentist in a hurry. Read more
The British Dental Association warns that hundreds of millions are set to be taken away from NHS dentistry during an ‘unprecedented’ access crisis. They have suggested it is on track to amount to over a tenth of the service’s £3 billion budget. Read more
It would take the mother of all sticking plasters to fix the NHS – and it has been tried many times, but maybe NHS dentistry is part of a different NHS that the politicians forgot to tell us (and the public) about, Kevin Lewis wonders. Read more
Dentists could be losing money on most active NHS treatments they perform, the British Dental Association (BDA) in Northern Ireland has said. Preliminary figures suggest carrying out treatments like fillings, crowns and extractions for NHS patients can cost dentists money. Read more
NHS dentistry in Scotland is at a pivotal moment, as the Scottish Dental Practice Committee (SDPC) enters a process of formal engagement with Scottish Government, covering fee allocation for the revised Determination 1 of the Statement of Dental Remuneration. Read more
Tipping points, turning points, points of no return, are just some of the expressions used to describe that moment when the old order breaks down, and there is no going back. Often identified with the benefit of hindsight, they are not always recognised at the time. Looking back over a… Read more
NHS dentistry in Scotland has ‘escaped imminent collapse’ following new support form the Scottish government. The Scottish government has announced plans to support NHS dentistry in the coming months. Read more
For many years one of the government’s tools to manipulate the Dentists and Doctors Review Body (DDRB) has been to miss the agreed deadlines for submitting its evidence. Read more
The recent announcement of a 4.5% pay uplift for NHS dental contracts at a time when inflation exceeds 10%, represented a further pay cut for dentists. This is on top of the claimed 40% real-terms cut in pay since 2008/9. Read more
A man has said he had to replace a broken crown using a £3.99 dentistry kit bought on the internet. Antony Watson, from Bridlington, is not registered with an NHS dentist and said he cannot afford private treatment. Read more
The British Dental Association (BDA) has called on the Scottish Government to fix the system underpinning NHS dentistry, as new data reveals little sign of a recovery in attendance and ever-widening health inequalities. Read more
Data released by NHS England has revealed that over 282,000 people were waiting for oral surgery on the NHS at the end of November 2022, an increase of 87.6 per cent since the beginning of the year. Read more
Medical and dental leaders have joined forces in a bid to restore independence to a ‘broken’ pay review process within the NHS. Read more
‘NHS dentistry in Wales is on its knees’: Following ‘misleading’ claims from the Welsh government on the availability of NHS dental appointments, one dentist has said these ‘unrealistic’ and ‘unfair’ claims are giving false hope to the Welsh public. Read more
The UK government’s approach to pay is driving talent out of the NHS, according to the British Dental Association. Read more
The British Dental Association (BDA) has urged Rishi Sunak to correct the record, after misrepresenting the crisis facing NHS dentistry at PMQs on January 11, 2023. In response to questions on patient access from Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, the Prime Minister claimed, “as a result of the… Read more
After stating that 112,000 additional dental appointments will be available this financial year, the BDA has urged the Welsh government to correct this ‘misleading’ claim. The BDA has urged the Welsh government to correct its claims surrounding NHS dental appointment availability. Read more
Recent data has revealed that the number of vacancies in the NHS and social care sectors has increased since September 2020. Health bodies and organisations have warned that such shortages have affected, and will continue to affect, patients. In recent years, successive governments have introduced measures to tackle staff shortages,… Read more
‘The last best hope to save the service’: parliament has launched a new inquiry into the state of NHS dentistry following alarming statistics. The Health and Social Care Committee has launched a new inquiry into NHS dentistry. Read more
One of the biggest threats to public health is antimicrobial resistance. The latest dentistry and oral health update from Jason Wong, deputy chief dental officer, and Ali Sparke, director for dentistry, opened by focusing on the lessons from world antimicrobial awareness week (November 18-24, 2022). Read more
New figures reveal a small increase in the number of NHS complaints involving primary care dental services. Read more
A new dental practice has opened its doors in Bangor, Wales, in a bid to alleviate the increasing shortage of NHS dentists in the area. Read more
Dentists urge TV presenter Richard Madeley to correct his inaccurate comments on NHS dentistry made during Good Morning Britain this morning. Read more
The Beveridge Report preceded the creation of the welfare state, designed to support people from cradle to grave. Today, it’s no longer the state protecting the vulnerable Read more
On Thursday 17 November, Jeremy Hunt delivered the government’s Autumn Statement on how they plan to rebuild the UK economy and ease the pressure caused by the cost of living crisis. Read more
Tens of thousands of new NHS dental appointments are being offered to patients in one part of Wales. Swansea Bay health board said dental practices were "severely impacted" by Covid rules - now bosses are trying to catch up on oral care. Read more
Following Jeremy Hunt's emergency statement on the public finances, the British Dental Association has warned any further cuts risk destroying any prospect of saving NHS dentistry in England. Read more
Communities across England have made it clear that NHS dentistry needs to be fixed – so it’s affordable and accessible. Read more about our evidence and what changes we’re calling for the NHS and Government to make. Read more
Last week, NHS England issued further information about the marginal changes to be implemented from 1 October onwards. This set out that from 1 October there would be a range of changes to the FP17 to reflect the package of measures that NHS England outlined in July. Read more
New analysis by the Local Government Association reveals a growing number of “dental deserts” across the country with more deprived or rural local authority areas having fewer NHS dentists than those in more affluent urban areas. Read more
Sara Hurley, the chief dental officer for England, has updated the dental team on the NHS contractual changes. Read more
After over 60 cross-party MPs call on Liz Truss to act with ‘urgency and ambition’ on the NHS dentistry crisis, the BDA has warned that the government must show ambition. More than 60 MPs across parliament have called on the new Prime Minister to honour her pledge to reform NHS… Read more
We have a new PM with a new top team, who have stated dentistry as a priority. But what’s needed now are deeds, not words. Read more
Almost one million pregnant patients missed out on free NHS dental care amidst the current access crisis. Patients are entitled to free NHS dental care if they are pregnant when they start treatment, and for 12 months after the baby is born. Read more
Welsh Government recently published Welsh Health Circular – The Role of the Community Dental Service (CDS) and Services for Vulnerable People. It lays out the various CDS functions that Local Health Boards are expected to deliver. These include the usual scope of community dental services: Paediatric dentistry including GA & sedation Special… Read more
The chief dental officer for England, Sara Hurley, has confirmed that dental teams no longer need to test for Covid-19 following new government guidance. From 31 August, routine asymptomatic testing will be paused across remaining healthcare settings, including hospitals and care homes. Read more
Only one third of adults accessed NHS dental care in the last two years, new figures reveal, sparking further frustration from the profession. Just 34% accessed NHS dental care in the 24 months to 31 March – with the number of children seen in the last year standing at 44.8%. Read more
Rishi Sunak has pledged to “restore” NHS dentistry by ringfencing its funding, strengthening prevention, and encouraging dentists to stay in the health service. Read more
Responding to a BBC investigation into NHS dentistry, Siobhan Melia, chair of the Community Network hosted by the NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, said: “We face a two-tier system where those who can afford it pay for treatment while those who cannot face longer waits and deteriorating health. This is widening… Read more
Nine in 10 NHS dental practices across the UK are not accepting new adult patients for treatment under the health service, a BBC investigation has found. Our research shows no dentists taking on adult NHS patients could be found in a third of the UK's top-tier councils. Read more
On the day that the Bank of England raised its lending rate by five basis points (.5%) to 1.75% - the highest increase for 27 years – it also issued a warning that inflation was poised to bust through the 13% barrier early in 2023. Coinciding with the announcement, the British Dental Association (BDA)… Read more
The British Dental Association (BDA) has warned potentially misleading claims that Welsh Government reforms will generate 112,000 new appointments are being used as cover to mask failure to invest in NHS dentistry. Read more
English dentists trying to predict what lies in store for them could do a lot worse than speak to their Welsh colleagues. The BBC News website is now carrying a story headlined, “NHS: Dentist check-ups in Wales cut to once a year” Read more
Yesterday, the government announced the first significant changes to the dental contract since its introduction – here is what is being said about it. NHS England announced the significant changes to the dental contact, sparking reaction from the profession. Read more
The latest pay rise for NHS dentists ‘will only accelerate the workforce crisis’ by forcing dentists to reconsider their future in the health service. This is according to the British Dental Association (BDA) following the announcement of the latest NHS salary increase. Read more
The British Dental Association has said government must press ahead on fundamental reform of NHS dentistry, following plans announced today that will do little to arrest the exodus of dentists from the service, or address the crisis in patient access. Read more
Just 16 of Edinburgh’s 104 dental practices offering NHS services are accepting new adult patients, according to new research released by Labour’s Ian Murray. A further nine practices are accepting only children. Read more
The British Dental Association is urging the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, to act now on the crisis in NHS dentistry. Read more
Dr Andrew Elnazir felt positive starting as an NHS dentist seeing up to 40 patients a day, but historic problems led to him becoming part of an exodus of dentists into the private sector. Read more
The British Dental Association (BDA) has written to the new Health Secretary and urged him to reform NHS dentistry ‘without any further delay’. The union hopes for immediate action as without it, ‘NHS dentistry in England faces a slow death’. Read more
Lest for a moment you thought that the crisis affecting NHS dentistry was largely confined to England and Wales, a report on UTL Live (ITN News) on Friday 24th June made clear in stark terms that NHS Dentistry in the province is ‘not a sustainable model’. Read more
NHS dentistry is “on the brink”, a union has warned, as it hit out at the scaling back of financial support for the sector. Concerns have been raised over the future sustainability of NHS dentistry by the British Dental Association (BDA). The organisation, which represents dentists in the UK, has… Read more
The British Dental Association has responded to reports that access to NHS dentistry ranked alongside issues with local schools and Partygate in fuelling the Conservatives landslide defeat in the Tiverton by-election. Read more
The BDA has issued a statement (14th June) cautioning the profession that any announcements on dental contract reform made before the Parliamentary summer recess were likely to be ‘only modest, marginal changes to the current discredited target-based NHS dental contract.’ Read more
The rush back to the Government’s definition of ‘normality’ in NHS dentistry has been driven by the Treasury, the Local Dental Committee National Conference was told on Friday. Read more
If the Government doesn’t invest significant funds in NHS dentistry, the only way to run a satisfactory NHS dental system would be to adopt a core service, the Annual Local Dental Conference has been told. Read more
The rise in cost of living could lead to a deterioration in the nation’s oral health, according to the Oral Health Foundation. Read more
In common with other caring professions, senior dentists have been in a state of prolonged anxiety since the pandemic, as we watch to see how quickly dental services can return to normal after two years of disruption. Read more
‘They want dentistry out of the NHS’ warns Eddie Crouch. 45% of dentists have reduced their commitment to NHS dentistry since the pandemic according to a survey of 2,204 dentists by the British Dental Association. 75% of respondents revealed they were likely to reduce – or further reduce – their NHS commitment over… Read more
The British Dental Association warns an unprecedented collapse in NHS commitment among dentists in England could spell the end for the service without radical and urgent action from government. Read more
Dentists have called on the government to freeze NHS dental charges following the stark rise in the cost of living. This comes after the government froze NHS prescription charges. Health secretary Sajid David stated: ‘The rise in the cost of living has been unavoidable…while we cannot completely prevent these rises,… Read more
New polling from Healthwatch England shows 41% of adults are struggling to access care, with nearly half (49%) saying that patient charge levels are unfair given the mounting cost of living. The shortage of appointments is hitting those on low incomes the hardest, and so we have backed calls from… Read more
We have responded to the latest report from the Association of Dental Groups (ADG), stressing that anything short of fundamentally reforming the broken contract is doomed to failure. New figures show over 2000 dentists left the NHS in England in the last year as of January 2022, down from 23,733… Read more
The Scottish Government has issued guidance for practices that previously expressed an interest in ventilation funding about the application process. Applications must be received by 30 June 2022. Read more
“Dental deserts” are emerging across England after more than 2,000 dentists quit the NHS last year, leaving millions of people struggling to get checkups or have toothaches fixed, a new report reveals. Read more
A school has brought in a dental charity to treat pupils with such bad toothache they have missed lessons. Staff at Trinity Academy Grammar in West Yorkshire have had to take pupils to hospital as they were in agony but unable to access an NHS dentist. Read more
Chief dental officer for England, Sara Hurley, has updated the dental profession on the latest NHS contract requirements. In a letter addressed to the profession this afternoon, it reads: ‘Following a review of transmitted data to date within Q4 we have introduced a minimum threshold of 75% for units of… Read more
Without more financial support, NHS dentistry across the border will ‘Wither on the vine’ according to the British Dental Association Wales. Read more
Members of Parliament called for better support for dentists and NHS dental care in the latest debate at Westminster Hall. Politicians from across the country spoke up on key issues affecting NHS dentistry, with many calling for urgent action. Read more
News publication Express has shared official figures which reveal trends in the NHS dental profession in 2020-2021. During this time, 23,733 dentists performed NHS activity – a decrease of 951 on the previous year... Read more
The British Dental Association (BDA) has reiterated their opposition to the recent rise in dental targets... Read more
He made the statement when facing queries from MPs at yesterday’s session of Prime Minister’s Questions. The Prime Minister was asked whether he will commit to increasing the number of NHS dentists in the UK. He responded by saying that the restrictions of lockdown hindered people from getting dental treatment.… Read more
Chief dental officer Sara Hurley has unveiled the latest targets for NHS dental practices in the run up to Christmas. Between January and March 2022, dental staff are asked to deliver 85% of their contract. This will then be restored to 100% from April. Sara writes that practices should plan… Read more
Boris Johnson faced questions about the state of dentistry during the latest session of Prime Minister’s Questions. Dr Caroline Johnson, the MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, made calls for the Prime Minister to support the formation of new dental schools, detailing the access struggles of her constituents. Speaking in… Read more
The changes to the registration procedures applicable to dentists who qualified in the European Union, appear to be beginning to bite. With many stories of the crisis in gaining access to NHS dentistry highlighted daily in the press, there have also been concomitant anecdotal tales from dental practices unable to… Read more
Nigel Jones caught up with HR and employment lawyer, Sarah Buxton, to explore mandatory vaccinations, look at who it will impact, and discuss how practices can comply with regulations. Read more
Changes to pathways and distancing are just some of the updates from the latest infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance. The government yesterday released new guidance for healthcare settings, including dentistry. This refers to the advice clinicians have had to follow since the onset of COVID-19 early in 2020. It… Read more
Campaign group Toothless in Suffolk recently expanded their network, with Toothless in England being formed as a central hub. Recently, Mark Jones, founder and spokesperson for the new group, appeared on BBC Radio Oxford, sharing stories of people going to extreme lengths to relieve their dental pain, all because they… Read more
The British Dental Association (BDA) Wales has welcomed commitments for additional funding for high street NHS dental services, but stressed support must also be provided to community services, treating the nation's most vulnerable adults and children. Minister for Health and Social Services Eluned Morgan MS has pledged additional funding for… Read more
Discrimination and unfair treatment is ‘evident’ within the NHS despite efforts to tackle it, a new report found. The findings also revealed that inequality between NHS staff groups are continuing – and in some cases, even getting worse. Carried out by Nuffield Trust, the report – ‘Attracting, supporting and retaining a… Read more
Scotland is set for an “exodus” from NHS dentistry unless pandemic funding support is extended, the British Dental Association (BDA) has said. The union continues to campaign against a decision from the Scottish Government to withdraw all pandemic emergency support to dental practices by April 1, 2022. According to a… Read more
The extent of the NHS dental crisis was brought home to viewers yesterday, when Dr Eddie Crouch appeared on the BBC’s Breakfast programme to outline the problems facing the dental health service. The British Dental Association Chair had been asked to discuss the crisis on live TV, with presenters Dan Walker and Sally Nugent. The interview was carried out… Read more
Vaccination against COVID-19 will be ‘compulsory for NHS dental staff’ in a bid to boost uptake. But the measure will not start until April down to fears it could lead to a shortfall in staff over the winter. Latest figures reveal that around 90% of NHS staff in England have… Read more
UDA rates fell by 58% in 2020 compared to the previous year, data shows. The latest CQC State of Care report exposes key issues within NHS dental services, especially among the younger population. It reports that inspectors found particular issues regarding access among children, suggesting the country’s ‘most vulnerable’ infants were affected.… Read more
As today sees the launch of Mouth Cancer Action Month, the dangers of missed dental appointments due to the pandemic backlog, has hit the news headlines. Yesterday, The Express headlined “Three years backlog! - Lives in danger as NHS dentistry faces ’worst crisis ever’” The newspaper said “People will die due to… Read more
Chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday revealed fresh economic plans for the UK, with £5.9 billion set aside to alleviate NHS backlogs. The huge sum sparked conversations among the profession over whether a chunk will be earmarked for dentistry. A number of other financial measures, however, were announced – many of which will… Read more
The British Dental Association has lamented the budget's failure to recognise the challenges facing dental services across England. It follows calls from both the BDA and Healthwatch England to provide vital funding for the recovery and rebuild of services, which was backed yesterday by over 40 cross-party MPs. Reform of the widely discredited… Read more
The British Dental Association (BDA) Scotland has warned plans to return NHS practices to pre covid models of work will devastate dental services across the country. Humza Yousaf, cabinet secretary, recently wrote to every NHS dental team in Scotland, indicating that all emergency support will be withdrawn by April 1,… Read more
The British Dental Association has teamed up with Healthwatch England to call on the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to use the approaching Spending Review to “Guarantee the future of NHS dentistry.” The two organisations used an open letter to highlight the impact on dental care that a decade of cuts and COVID-19 have had on… Read more
An MP is calling for urgent action amidst the growing waiting list for NHS dental care. Speaking in Parliament yesterday (19 October), MP Yvette Cooper lay out the realities of NHS dentistry and the challenges now faced by dentists and patients across the UK. ‘NHS dentistry is facing a total capacity crisis,’… Read more
The much-anticipated reform of the NHS dental contract is unlikely to be introduced for some considerable time, following a letter sent yesterday to participating prototype practices. Early yesterday, GDPUK saw a draft of the letter written by Alette Addison, the Deputy Director of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Eye Care. The letter was undated. Read more
A nine-year-old girl has waited nine months for dental treatment – and is still yet to be seen. In a new BBC report, it is revealed that the child, Grace, was put on a waiting list in January to have the tooth extracted using general anaesthetic. However, she is still waiting to have it… Read more
Health Secretary Sajid Javid’s speech to the Conservative Party Conference this week, which exclaimed “It’s time to level up on health,” failed to contain a single reference to dentistry. Mr Javid’s 1577 word speech left oral health completely on the sidelines, although he enthused about Information Technology. “I want the NHS to embrace innovation… Read more
NHS dentistry access delays are now so severe that some patients are resorting to removing their own teeth, as reported by the BBC. The broadcaster shared the experience of Danielle Watts, from Suffolk, who says she has been unable to see a dentist for six years, after the practice she… Read more
Zoe Close looks at the latest government announcement on the increased NHS activity targets, and the impact it will have after it arrived just hours before the new contracts were due to start. Until the evening of 30 September, NHS dentists were in a position where they had absolutely zero… Read more
There are signs of ‘normality’ returning to the business of dentistry according to the results of a newly-released survey. The National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers’ quarterly Goodwill Survey has suggested there are big jumps in the valuations of dental practices and ‘deals completed.’ NASDAL said “In terms of deals… Read more
Prime Minister Boris Johnson claims the latest investments will make the NHS a better place for the dental profession. Robert Goodwill MP confronted the PM during a recent Parliamentary debate on the future of NHS dentistry. He highlighted previous queues ‘around the block’ with patients waiting in vain for an… Read more
The chief dental officer (CDO) for Scotland has updated the profession on the future of infection and prevention control in dental practices. In a letter to practices, CDO Tom Ferris revealed that work is underway to examine how policy can change according to new developments, such as vaccinations. As it stands, all… Read more
BDA Wales is calling for the relaxation of COVID rules to avoid patients unnecessarily losing teeth and allow more dental check-ups. Russell Gidney, chair of the BDA’s Welsh General Dental Practice Committee, says delays will mean tooth decay, gum disease and cancers will go unspotted. He highlights strict hygiene measures and fallow time reducing… Read more
The release of the latest NHS Dental Statistics has shown that the number of course of treatment carried out in the General Dental Service in 2020-21, was down by 69% compared to the previous year. The NHS Digital report revealed that only 12 million courses of treatment were carried out in 2020-21.… Read more
Around 40% of dentists report it will take 12 months or longer to tackle the backlog of patients at their practice. This is according to latest research carried out by the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. It reports that four in 10… Read more
Millions of young children missed out on an NHS dental appointment in the last 12 months. Official statistics expose a significant drop in the number of youngsters who saw a dentist during the pandemic. The number fell from 58.7% as of 31 March 2020 to 23% on 31 March 2021.… Read more
Dental practices in Scotland have been given just 24 working hours to prepare for free NHS provision. Today, the Scottish government issued guidance on how NHS practices can deliver free care for 18 to 25-year-olds. The move falls under the SNP pledge to abolish all NHS dental care charges after they were… Read more
Chief dental officer Sara Hurley has announced new changes to fallow time requirements in England. Fallow time following an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP) is no longer needed for successive appointments involving members of the same household. However it is advised that the disinfection and cleaning of the environment should still be… Read more
The UK is significantly lacking specialists in paediatric dentistry, it has been suggested. In a new report into the dental specialist workforce and its UK distribution, the team concluded that ‘stark inequalities’ exist throughout the country. In response, the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) says the number of paediatric specialists in… Read more
Scotland is appointing three new deputy chief dental officers, it has been revealed. The division of the chief dental officer for Scotland today announces three new deputies to help guide dentistry out of the pandemic. These are: Zahid Imran Gillian Leslie Gavin Mclellan. Between them, the candidates bring significant experience… Read more
“Dentistry is a hugely important service” says the new Chief Executive Officer of NHS England. Amanda Pritchard was announced as the CEO of NHS England on Wednesday, and will be taking over from Lord (Simon) Stevens on August 1st. Ms Pritchard is currently the Chief Operating Officer of NHS England and NHS Improvement and… Read more
The Government has confirmed a 3% pay award to NHS workers in England, meeting the recommendations made by the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Renumeration (DDRB). The British Dental Association News website said “A long term approach to pay is now required to keep NHS dentistry viable.” The 3% rise came after a… Read more
Sara Hurley, chief dental officer England, and Ed Waller, director of primary care NHS England, have recently provided an update regarding self-isolation policies and retuning to work for those who are a healthcare provider. In their statement, they said, “We are writing with further information on the government's announcement that if there… Read more
A number of dentists in Northern Ireland are considering pulling out of providing NHS dental care, as the continuation of Covid-19 restrictions have created a system that is “not viable”. Fallow time after aerosol generating procedures has meant that many practices are operating at a reduced capacity. Ciara Gallagher, the… Read more
‘Not yet business as usual’ – this is the key message that has been put out to the dental profession by chief dental officer Sara Hurley ahead of next week’s easing of restrictions. But the CDO has confirmed a number of changes to England’s standard operating procedure (SOP). This falls… Read more
The British Dental Association has told NHS England that any increase to the activity threshold for the second half of the financial year without a change in the IPC guidance and SOP, would not be acceptable. In the report of the BDA’s latest General Dental Practice Committee meeting, Chair Dr Shawn Charlwood said, “We are continuing to meet… Read more
A dentist who was one UDA short of her annual target as a result of the pandemic, and was given a given a contract breach notice by NHS England, has won an appeal against the decision. The female dentist, who practises in Derbyshire, appealed against NHS England’s decision, to NHS Resolution, part… Read more
New figures reveal that NHS practice values plummeted in the last quarter as the UK experienced its third lockdown. This is according to a new survey carried out by NASDAL. The research features data on valuations as well as deals done during the quarter ending 30 April 2021. Findings include:… Read more
An all-encompassing survey has revealed how COVID-19 has changed the lives and attitudes of dental professionals. Dentistry reports. COVID-19 has changed life for us all but how has it impacted dentistry? A major new study carried out by Dentistry and Dentistry Online has shed light on what life after COVID-19 could look like for… Read more
England’s NHS dentists will be casting an envious glance over the border, after the Welsh Government announced that the principality’s practitioners will never be returning to the ‘failed’ UDA system. Read more
The Scottish government is moving closer to its pledge to provide NHS dentistry to young people aged 18 to 25. In April, the SNP vowed to abolish all NHS dental care charges if they were re-elected to parliament. And after a successful election last month, it is now making moves… Read more
NHS contract reform “Needs to be in place for April next year” the national Local Dental Committee Conference was told at the weekend. “I know that’s ambitious, but time is running out. The decade of delay and repeatedly kicking of the can down the road needs to stop” Shawn Charlwood, Chair of the BDA… Read more
Dentistry comes first on the list of the most delayed healthcare services in the UK. In an Oral Health Foundation survey, almost half (45%) reported dental appointment or treatment delays in the last 12 months. This is the top reported service delay, climbing above other healthcare services including: GP surgeries… Read more
Dental professionals with an NHS contract in Wales are eligible for a one-off bonus payment as a result of COVID-19. In March, the Welsh government announced that NHS and social care staff will be awarded a bonus payment as a thank you for their work during the pandemic. The one-off… Read more
The British Dental Association has urged government to set out a clear route map for reform and relaxation of covid restrictions, as new survey data points to an exodus from the service as the access crisis continues with nearly 30m appointments lost since the first lockdown. MPs are set to… Read more
Dental practice principals could in future be considered to be liable for the dental negligence of their associates, following a recent judgement. The BDA News website called the judgment “A shocking court case.” It said it highlights why some indemnity policies will not keep you safe from claims and damages.… Read more
Neil Richardson explores the outcome of the government’s McCloud consultation and what you need to consider before making a decision. In April 2015, public sector pension schemes were reformed, with most members moved into new career average arrangements. Following consultations with member representatives when the schemes were reformed, transitional protections… Read more
Patients report travelling more than 50 miles to access NHS dentistry, sparking fears that the profession is being plunged into crisis even further. Following the closure of an NHS dental practice in Scarborough, Yorkshire, patients have been travelling to cities as a far away as Leeds in a desperate bid… Read more
The Welsh government has confirmed that NHS dental teams will receive a bonus payment in response to the pandemic. Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health and Social Services, said the recent plans to award bonus payments to NHS workers in Wales will extend to dental services. This follows a letter put… Read more
NHS dental charges will be removed North of the border if the SNP wins the Scottish Parliament election in May. The Scottish National Party has pledged to abolish NHS dentistry charges if re-elected, in its 75-page manifesto entitled ‘Scotland’s Future.’ The SNP has also pledged to protect free prescriptions and to increase frontline NHS… Read more
NHS Business Services Authority has now issued its ‘Guidance to support dental contract management arrangements for the 2020/21 year-end reconciliation,’ amid warnings to those providers who have not paid their associates correctly, that they may face investigations if they make false declarations. The document specifies that practices were expected to continue… Read more
The government has confirmed that the exemption on patient prescription signing will be extended by three months. The Department of Health and Social Care have announced that patients will not have to sign dental forms up until 30 June 2021. Last November, the government enforced the move in a bid to reduce… Read more
Patient charges will not increase from 1 April in England or Wales, it has been confirmed. The Department of Health and Social Care says there will not be a hike in patient charges in England from 1 April. Similarly, the chief dental officer for Wales, Colette Bridgman, confirmed the same… Read more
NHS dental practices will need to hit 60% of their pre-COVID activity under new requirements. This was announced under a new statement from CDO Sara Hurley and director of primary care commissioning transformation, Gabi Darby. From 1 January 2021, dental practices were asked to deliver 45% of their contracts in order… Read more
NHS staff in Scotland have been offered a 4% pay rise – but dentists have been excluded. The Scottish government confirmed that the average pay of a frontline worker could increase by more than £1,200. This will include 154,000 staff members including paramedics, nurses and domestic staff. The pay increase… Read more
The President of the World Dental Federation (FDI) has called the oral health aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic ‘A dental disaster.’ Dr Gerhard Konrad Seeberger said "Restrictions have certainly played a part in oral health hesitancy, but they don’t tell the whole story.” He added "Let’s call it for what it is—a dental… Read more
On No Smoking Day 2021 smokers are encouraged to put smoking behind them for a brighter future. New evidence published this week shows that smokers who quit for six weeks or more are happier than those who carry on smoking. Reductions in anxiety and depression in those who quit smoking… Read more
Luke Moore discusses what the chancellor's plans mean for dental professionals. The UK held its breath as the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, presented the 2021 budget. By this point, it was clear that the focus would be on post-pandemic recovery plans – including an outline of the financial support available beyond… Read more
This follows the latest report of recommendations to the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB). The British Dental Association (BDA) labelled the news a ‘body blow’ to an already precarious healthcare service. ‘Ministers seem to have forgotten that NHS dentistry can only survive if it is capable of… Read more
NHS staff were inundated with more than 137,000 spam or phishing emails last year. This is according to the latest figures from NHS Digital. Obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, NHS employees reported 27,958 suspected phishing emails targeting their email service. These were drafted in a bid to encourage… Read more
New data released by the NHS has revealed the impact of lockdown-enforced dentist closures in England, with patients in London worst affected as available appointments plummeted to 21 per cent less than 2019. Almost a year on from the initial government-enforced national lockdown, the NHS has released figures which highlight… Read more
NHS dental attendance figures published last week show over two thirds of children (70.2 per cent) in England did not see an NHS dentist in the 12 months to December 31, 2020. Dental surgeons are warning the number of children admitted to hospital for tooth decay may rise, if access… Read more
NHS dental associates who haven’t been paid fully during the pandemic are being encouraged to give voice to their pay concerns. NHS Business Services Authority (BSA) has launched a new pay concerns year-end form on behalf of NHS England and NHS Improvement. The BSA has said “The expectation from NHS England and NHS Improvement… Read more
The White Paper launched by Health Secretary Matt Hancock spells fundamental change in the way healthcare works in England. The Lansley Reforms of 2012 could be history (well for the most part) and new laws are set to reach the statute books in 2022. Brace yourself for another re(dis)organisation of dentistry, say… Read more
Dental practices should pay associates at a lower rate until the NHS fulfils practices’ full contract value, the BDA says. Its updated guidance suggests ‘If NHS England pays the practice at the higher rate, the practice will pass that higher rate to all its associates. If NHS England pays the… Read more
Some NHS dental patients have been asked to pay for private care "if they want any treatment", according to a watchdog. Others are facing waits of up to two years for an NHS appointment, Healthwatch England has warned. One patient was in so much pain he decided to extract his… Read more
Some NHS dental patients have been asked to pay for private care "if they want any treatment", according to a watchdog. Read more
More than seven in 10 are still struggling to access dentistry as patients continue to carry out DIY dentistry, a watchdog has revealed. Read more
Dentists have provided around 19m fewer treatments in England since March this year compared to the same period last year, figures show. British Dental Association (BDA) analysis, seen by the BBC, shows practices operating at a fraction of their capacity during the pandemic. It warns hundreds of practices could be… Read more
In a letter released 12th October, Tom Ferris CDO Scotland announced that, as of Sunday 1st November dental contractors will be able to provide a full range of dental treatments to NHS patients. This announcement follows the recent publication of the Scottish Dental Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) ‘Review of Aerosol Generating… Read more
DENTISTS’ leaders have warned that Scotland could end up with a private only system of care with poorer patients resigned to ‘missing teeth and dentures’ if current Covid restrictions are not lifted and practices do not receive additional support. Professor Phil Taylor, Dean-Elect of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd)’s… Read more
The clarification, issued by NHS England and NHS Improvement, covers abatement reconciliation, patient care activity, other contracts, eg orthodontic, domiciliary, and staffing assurance. It answers many of the questions raised by GDPs, although the language can be technical. Read more
The pay rise will be backdated to 1st April 2020 and is in recognition of their 'vital contribution' during COVID-19. The pay rise was welcomed by the BDA, but they also said that more needs to be done to sustain the ‘long term integrity of the service’. Read more
NHS England and the CDO England have set out key NHS contractual issues caused by COVID-19, during lockdown and those that apply since 8 June. The letter confirms that abatement of 16.75% will be applied to the majority of contracts from 1 April until 8 June. Read more
The Oral Health Foundation has urged Matt Hancock to temporarily freeze NHS patient charges in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter, issued in early July, says a freeze could help thousands of people combat dental disease and prevent deterioration of health. Read more
The Government has pledged to hold a planned inquiry into dentistry that was postponed due to last year’s General Election. Jeremy Hunt, chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, will hold the inquiry looking into issues surrounding the profession. Read more
Fifty-one per cent of practices don’t believe they'd be financially viable with the current funding model going into the next ‘return to work’ phase. The survey by the Scottish Dental Practice Owners’ Group also found that 57% would consider remaining closed after COVID-19. Read more