Along with demands for contractual reform, increasing the numbers of dentists has become a favourite solution for the access crisis. With an estimated 3000 dentists leaving the NHS in the space of two years, and practice owners struggling to recruit, attracting dentists to the UK has become a priority.
1 comments
Only days apart, two significant announcements about Scottish dentistry have illustrated the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
Read more: Confidence In Scottish Dental Market But BDA Concerned
The publication of the government policy paper “A plan for digital health and social care” may make uneasy reading for GDP’s. Despite this it is likely to be a good indicator of priorities for the Health Service and reform, in the next few years.
Lest for a moment you thought that the crisis affecting NHS dentistry was largely confined to England and Wales, a report on UTL Live (ITN News) on Friday 24th June made clear in stark terms that NHS Dentistry in the province is ‘not a sustainable model’.
Read more: NHS Dentistry In Northern Ireland Branded ‘Unsustainable’
“From 1 July, NHS dentists have to pretend they’ve returned to ‘business as usual” Dr Shawn Charlwood has told the profession.
Read more: Ready For New NHS Targets? No? Then Just “Pretend”
Fear of litigation is a recurrent fear across the dental profession, with many older, experienced dentists resigned to believing that it’s not a question of ‘if’ they will be the victim of a legal case against them, but ‘when’.
Read more: Patient Complaints Are A Particular Worry For Young Dentists