Botched dental survey costs almost £40,000
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- Published: Wednesday, 21 September 2016 07:41
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The Herald (Scotland) reports that a survey to uncover the truth about the finances of Scottish dentists cost almost £40,000 and just one dental practice submitted a response. Margie Taylor, chief dental officer for Scotland, said the survey was organised as the Review Body did not feel they had enough information about the costs of running a practice.
The survey was commissioned after plans to reform the profession in Scotland revealed "serious misgivings" about figures currently available on the earnings and expenses of dentists who work for the NHS. However, the Scottish Government' has now its attempt to extract the information from a sample of dentists resulted in just one completed form. Now the government are planning to make supplying the required data mandatory as part of the contract independent dentists have with the health service.
Margie Taylor, chief dental officer for Scotland, said the organisation which recommends pay rises for medical and dental staff - the Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration Body (DDRB) - did not feel they had enough information about "the costs of running a practice".
As a result the Scottish Government commissioned an independent financial consultant to gather the detail at a cost of £36,900. The firm conducted two pilot exercises and a main project. The pilots resulted in one complete response while seven dental practices committed to supplying the required information for the main survey, but no responses were received.
Ms Taylor said: "The form we gave them was quite detailed and difficult to complete, so a change we have made this year is we have asked a firm of accountants to engage with the process completely. The firm of accountants will help them complete the form." A system of visits where the accountants analyse the books of participating practices has also been set up.
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