BDA Says NHS Health Boards Must Heed Health Minister's Call To Prioritise High Street Dentists, UK

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 07 Aug 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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The British Dental Association is pleased that today's announcement of primary care modernisation funding recognises the important role independent (high street) dentists have in delivering NHS dental services in Scotland.

Andrew Lamb, BDA's Scotland Director, said:

"Specifically targeting this funding at supporting dentists to meet the challenges of upgrading decontamination infrastructure is an encouraging development and recognises the representations made by the BDA regarding the need to look at decontamination requirements in the light of existing premises.

"Given the wide ranging implications that today's announcement has on high street dentists, the BDA calls on the NHS Boards to take their steer from Ms Sturgeon and prioritise support for independent dental practices. However, giving NHS Boards only two months to prepare and submit detailed proposals to the Scottish Government gives us cause for concern about the ability of the Boards to meet this timescale.

"The BDA will also consider carefully the details behind today's announcement particularly when it involves the relocation of existing practices. The BDA's Scottish Dental Practice Committee would wish to continue to work with the Scottish Government in developing the details behind today's proposals."

The British Dental Association (BDA) is the professional association for dentists in the UK. It represents over 20,000 dentists working in general practice, in community and hospital settings, in academia and research, and in the armed forces.

British Dental Association