BDA Response To Conservative Plans For Reform Of NHS Dentistry In England

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 19 May 2009 - 8:00 PDT

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The British Dental Association (BDA) has responded to the publication of outline plans for the reform of NHS dentistry in England by the Conservative Party which have been released today. The plans, which are outlined in a document titled Transforming NHS dentistry, include commitments to improve access to dental care, scrap the unit of dental activity, reintroduce formal patient registration and reward preventive care given by dentists. The document also sees the Conservatives pledge to properly pilot any reforms.

John Milne, Chair of the BDA's General Dental Practice Committee, said:

"The dental contract that was introduced in 2006 has created significant problems for dentists and patients alike. Those problems have been well documented, by the BDA, patient groups and the Health Select Committee. In seeking to address those problems it will be important to afford access to dentists to all and ensure that dentists can provide modern, preventive care.

"Also vital is engagement with the profession in developing the detail of these proposals and properly testing new arrangements before they are implemented. The BDA looks forward to seeing those details and discussing them further."

1. The BDA is The British Dental Association (BDA) is the professional association for dentists in the UK. It represents over 23,000 dentists working in general practice, in community and hospital settings, in academia and research, and in the armed forces.

Source
British Dental Association