MP Fleur Anderson (@PutneyFleur) has secured a debate in the House of Commons on the impact of COVID on dental services. She is the Labour MP for Putney and in a recent tweet invited comments from her constituents and local dental practices. Also the Minister has replied to a question about dental services in Yorkshire.
No commentsRead more: Commons debate on COVID/dentistry now January 14th
Despite warnings from the BDA about the dangers of re-introducing UDA targets in the fourth quarter of 2020/21 and stricter lockdown for patients, the Government is pushing ahead with the imposition of a 45% activity target for dental practices in England. If they fail to deliver this percentage, clawback will apply, with draconian consequences for anyone achieving less than 36% of target.
Read more: Targets back with a vengeance in England despite stricter lockdown
The British Dental Association, Faculty of General Dental Practice UK and College of General Dentistry have joined forces to conduct a survey into discrimination in dentistry. Onkar Dhanoya, Chair of the Programme Board, said: “Dentistry is a caring profession by nature, but the experiences of some dentists suggest that as a profession we don’t always treat our colleagues as well as we do our patients.”
The government’s move to impose new targets in England will pull the life support away from NHS dentistry and undermine patient care, argues Dave Cottam, GDPC Chair. He says: “Today we have refused to sign up to a deal which will see practices face steep financial penalties if they are unable to hit 45% of their pre-pandemic UDA targets. The government has decided to press ahead with a target that will ‘threaten practice viability and undermine patient care’.
Read more: New UDA targets to be imposed in England from January
Dentists and their teams in NHS, private or mixed practice will be part of a priority group of healthcare workers to receive the COVID vaccination. Starting in hospitals the programme has been rolled out to GPs. The BDA has notified that all primary care contractors in England will be contacted by the NHS this week regarding lateral flow antigen testing kits for staff.
Read more: Dental teams a priority for COVID vaccination and more testing
Health Minister Vaughan Gething MS has agreed a funding package of £450,000 in 2020-21 to support dental practices in improving surgery ventilation. The BDA has welcomed the Welsh Government’s leadership on the issue. New ventilation systems can help practices slash their fallow time to a matter of minutes, offering hope of significant expansion in patient access.
Read more: Extra funding in Wales to improve surgery ventilation