Dentists Deliver Mixed Verdict On Dental Action Plan, UK

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 10 Sep 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The Scottish Dental Action Plan, introduced by the then Scottish Executive in April 2005, has received a mixed verdict from dental practitioners across Scotland. A survey by the British Dental Association (BDA) found that only a third of high street dentists in Scotland (37 per cent) believe that the Action Plan has changed dentistry for the better, with nearly a fifth (17 per cent) believing it has made things worse. Almost half of those surveyed (46 per cent) said they did not believe it had made either a positive or negative difference.

The survey also investigated the issues facing dentistry in Scotland. Despite dentists investing heavily in practice facilities in recent years, 24 per cent of respondents said their practices would not allow them to comply with the decontamination guidelines currently being consulted on by the Scottish Government, raising the spectre of possible forced practice closures. The potential impact of retirements on access to NHS care was also highlighted by the survey, which revealed practitioners aged 50 and over have larger NHS patient lists than their younger colleagues.

Andrew Lamb, BDA Director for Scotland, said:

"The results of this survey highlight ongoing concerns about the future of dentistry in Scotland. It is clear that the Scottish Government still has a number of issues to address if access to NHS dentistry for patients across Scotland is to be improved. It is only through constructive dialogue between the profession and the Scottish Government can these matters can be addressed. The Minister for Public Health has demonstrated a willingness to discuss these issues with representatives of the BDA's Scottish Dental Practice Committee. This must continue."

Note

1. 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.

British Dental Association

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