British Dental Association Gives Mixed Reception To Pay Award

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 08 Apr 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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The British Dental Association (BDA) has expressed disappointment at the new pay award for NHS dentists announced today, while acknowledging that many of the profession's arguments have clearly hit home with the pay review body. The Government has announced it has accepted the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body (DDRB) recommendations in full this year. This means that high street dentists across England will receive a 3.4 per cent gross uplift in their fees. The increase is intended to produce a 2.2 per cent net (after expenses, before tax) uplift in income.

The DDRB's report notes concerns about continuing problems with access to NHS dentistry and the confidence of the profession. It also acknowledges the escalating expense levels facing dentists.

Responding to the announcement, Susie Sanderson, Chair of the BDA's Executive Board, said:

"Today's announcement shows we have won the battle of ideas, with the pay review body accepting our arguments about the many problems facing dentists and patients. Our evidence about the escalating expense of running a practice also appears to have been taken on board.

"Dentists in general practice will therefore be extremely disappointed by the level of increase recommended which we fear will not be adequate to tackle the very problems that the DDRB has recognised and highlighted in its report."

Notes

1. Details of the announcement are available here. The DDRB report is also available online here.

2. The British Dental Association (BDA) is the professional association for dentists in the UK. It represents over 22,000 dentists working in general practice, in community and hospital settings, in academia and research, and in the armed forces.

British Dental Association