Scottish newspaper names high grossing dentists
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- Published: Friday, 12 December 2014 09:21
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According to The Herald some dentists in Scotland had gross earnings of more than £500,000 from the NHS last year and two dental practitioners ‘clawed back more than £1 million in taxpayers' money for services provided to the public’. A spokesperson for the BDA said: "These figures include the money practitioners need to set aside for staffing, premises and equipment. They don't reflect the reality of life on frontline of dentistry in Scotland”.
The newspaper said many dentists concentrate on private patients, but others get reimbursed for work covered by the NHS. ‘Under freedom of information legislation, an NHS quango was asked for details of the top 100-earning dentists in Scotland for 2013-14.’
The gross earnings of several of these dentists were listed by the paper which did admit that the figures were gross rather than net, and the money is not just for an individual's salary, but is also used to pay for the running of dental practices. The earnings in many cases also related to dentists with multiple practices. The paper noted that in the previous financial year, 2012-13, the top earner received £2.1m and the second highest-paid dentist received £1.3m.
Liberal Democrat MSP Jim Hume said: "NHS dentists are a hugely important part of our health service, but as with any other area of public spending we must ensure that the taxpayer is getting value for money. Dentists are highly skilled professionals. It is absolutely right they are paid fairly for their work, but ministers should not be asking us to sign blank cheques. There are some substantial sums of money being paid out. It is important we are clear where it is going and what it is for."
A spokesperson for the British Dental Association said: "These figures include the money practitioners need to set aside for staffing, premises and equipment. They don't reflect the reality of life on frontline of dentistry in Scotland. Dentists in Scotland are feeling the squeeze. Average incomes are now £68,000, down 25% since 2009. This leaves Scottish dentists the lowest earners in the UK."
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