British Dental Association Reaction To Publication Of Earnings And Expenses Statistics

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 05 Aug 2009 - 11:00 PDT

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Statistics released yesterday by the NHS Information Centre reflect a year when dentists were working hard to make the new dental contract of 2006 work, according to the British Dental Association (BDA). The Dental Earnings and Expenses, England and Wales, 2007/08 report, which considers the earnings of dentists who undertook NHS work in England or Wales in the second year of the new contract, paints a picture of earnings settling after a transitional year in 2006/07.

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

"These statistics reflect the second year of operation of the 2006 dental contract in England and Wales, a time when dentists were working hard to overcome problems with the new arrangements and make them work for their patients. Many practitioners were contending with the uncertainty of potential clawback of their contract values. Dentists, almost uniquely in the NHS, carry the business risk of their surgeries and are responsible for providing premises, equipment and staff.

"The picture the statistics paint is one of earnings settling and the expenses of NHS practitioners rising slightly, although, as the Information Centre itself points out, it is hard to make comparisons with figures from previous years."

"What's important now is that we look forward to what we hope will be a better future for NHS dentistry in which the reforms recommended by Professor Steele's report are properly consulted on, meaningfully piloted and implemented for the good of patients and dentists alike."

Source
British Dental Association

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