NHS Patient Charges Increase April
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- Published: Saturday, 09 March 2024 15:24
- Written by Guy Tuggle
- Hits: 1283
NHS dental patients have been dealt a further hammer blow by a government announcement that patient charges are to rise by 4% from April 1st 2024.
Band 1 will rise to £26.80 (from £25.80), Band 2 to £73.50 (from £70.70) and Band 3 leaps to £319.10 (from £306.80). The increases are £1, £2.80 and £12.30 respectively.
In a statement issued on 7th March Health Minister Dame Andrea Leadsom said
"In April 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care implemented the first dental patient charge uplift since December 2020.
The economic climate at the time, along with an extended period between uplifts and increasing costs of delivering NHS dental care, meant that a higher than usual uplift of 8.5% came into force in April 2023. This allows a smaller uplift for 2024-25 without adversely affecting NHS budgets.
It is important that current and future work to improve NHS dentistry is not undermined by the risk of reduced funding because of lower NHS dental patient charge revenue.
The government is sticking to its well worn policy of making patients stump up for an ever greater proportion of the cost of NHS dentistry rather than pump in much needed additional funding from an increased and tax funded NHS budget.
Responding to Leadsom’s announcement, the British Dental Association’s GDPC Chair Shawn Charlwood said “This latest hike is another slap in the face for hard-pressed families across England.
This won’t put a penny in to bring NHS dentistry back from the brink. The Government is asking the public to pay more for less of a service."
"We need real reform and fair funding" said Mr Charlwood.
"We consider that this is proportionate."
— BDA (@TheBDA) March 8, 2024
So says Minister @AndreaLeadsom
Years of charge hikes mean patients in🏴 will pay £116.10 more for the same treatment than cousins in🏴
Is that proportionate?
NHS dentistry needs fair funding and real reform. https://t.co/2FfPt0VagG pic.twitter.com/WgfMqjbJM7
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-03-07/hcws317
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