Dentists are being urged to add their names to a petition opposing proposals to reduce the salary paid to Dental Foundation Trainees (DFTs) by more than £2,000. The petition, which warns of the practical implications for young dentists qualifying with increasing debts and calls for the proposal to be abandoned, has already attracted more than 5,000 signatures.
No commentsRead more: Support campaign against DFT salary cut, BDA urges
Continued recovery in the UK economy is driving a rise in confidence amongst dentists and a move towards more private dental care, according to the findings from the latest Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking Healthcare Confidence Index.
Read more: Rising Confidence reported amongst Dentists as Private Dental Care Increases
The British Dental Association in Scotland has been contacted by members who are becoming increasingly frustrated by lengthy delays in getting the go-ahead for treatment plans, with many dentists footing the bill themselves rather than wait for funding. The matter was recently raised in the Scottish Parliament.
Read more: Long waits for prior approval raised in Scottish Parliament
The Dental Complaints Service (DCS) resolves most complaints about private dental care in less than a week, it says in its annual report. Receiving more than 9,800 calls in 2013, the DCS has reduced the average time it takes to resolve a complaint from 7 to 6.5 days. The DCS was launched in 2006 and helps patients and dental professionals resolve complaints about private dental care.
The latest goodwill survey from NASDAL for the quarter ending January 31st of this year shows that the North-South divide is reflected in dental practice sales figures. The deals also reflect the ongoing popularity of mixed practices. NASDAL member Alan Suggett said that the average goodwill value for an NHS dental practice was 88% of turnover, for a private practice, 89%, and all practices 97% of turnover.