BDA Response To London Assembly Report On NHS Dental Care In London

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 02 Nov 2007 - 5:00 PDT

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The British Dental Association (BDA) has welcomed the recent publication of Teething Problems, the London Assembly's review of NHS dental care in London. The report emphasises uptake of dental care as an important public health issue and highlights a number of concerns with the way NHS dentistry is delivered. Its recommendations include a call for the Department of Health to consider how the current general dental services contract could be revised so that preventive care is encouraged.

The report also identifies problems with the budget for NHS dentistry, arguing that the new funding system means PCTs can only have a limited impact on the problems some people face accessing NHS care. The report recommends that, after April 2009, the Department of Health should base PCTs' dental funding allocations on the needs of the communities they serve.

Commenting on the findings, BDA Chief Executive Peter Ward said:

"This report highlights the problems many Londoners experience trying to get NHS dental care. Difficulties accessing NHS dentistry, confusion about dental charges and shortfalls in patient charge revenue are familiar to patients and dentists across England and Wales.

"We know, from listening to our own members, that the failure of the new contract to allow dentists to provide the kind of modern, preventive care they wish to is a significant problem. The Department of Health must listen to the London Assembly and consider how it can revise the current NHS dental contract to build preventive care into the way the system works."
The BDA submitted written evidence to the enquiry and was represented on a panel of experts that provided oral evidence to the Health and Public Services Committee, the body responsible for conducting the review.

1. Teething problems is available here.
2. 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.

http://www.bda.org