COVID-19 Update: BDA secures financial support for mixed practices
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- Published: Friday, 03 April 2020 06:57
- Written by News Editor
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The BDA has secured an agreement with NHS England that mixed NHS/private practices, who wish to claim against additional Government support schemes, including the ‘furlough’ of staff, should ensure that this claim is in relation to the proportion of private revenue only. In addition, new personal protective equipment guidance has been issued by the authorities.
The BDA’s Coronavirus update page[i] is available to all whether or not they are members and is continuously revised.
NHS and private financial support for mixed practices in England
Following ongoing dialogue, with NHS England, the BDA understands that the application of the principles outlined in the preparedness letter of 25 March 2020 for practices benefitting from continued NHS funding are intended to apply to NHS income only. This advice said that practices benefiting from continued NHS funding would not be eligible to seek any wider government assistance to small businesses, a condition that appears to have been over-ridden.
Practices who now wish to claim against additional Government support schemes, such as ‘furloughing’ staff, should ensure that this is in relation to the proportion of private revenue only.
In line with the methodology of determining private and NHS income used for business rates reimbursements contractors are advised to use the proportion of gross income that relates to GDS/PDS contract value as NHS revenue, the balance being private share. Those contractors who claim business rates reimbursements will have this data readily available.
However, NHS England expects that as part of the 2020/2021 reconciliation process, (in a year’s time), practices will be expected to declare that they have not applied for any duplicative Government funding and provide evidence of the portion of NHS/private income used in any applications for additional support.
New personal protective equipment guidance
New guidance has been published today jointly by the public health agencies across the UK and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges setting out recommended personal protective equipment (PPE), including for primary care dentistry. The advice restates the previous position that a filtering face piece respirator is recommended for aerosol generating procedures (AGPs), but that for other direct patient care, a fluid-resistant (type IIR) surgical mask remains appropriate.
However, the BDA continues to have serious concerns about the advice that fluid resistant surgical masks and other routine personal protective equipment (PPE) offer adequate protection for non-aerosol generating procedures in dental care and they will update their position shortly.
[i] https://bda.org/advice/Coronavirus/Pages/latest-updates.aspx
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