COVID-19: Update: 101 MPs urge Chancellor to throw dentists a lifeline
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- Published: Wednesday, 22 April 2020 17:37
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Labour MP Fleur Anderson has been joined by 101 fellow MPs, delivering a stark warning to the government that unless urgent action is taken dental practices across the country will not recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Junior Health Minister has answered questions dentistry during the pandemic and FGDP Dean, Ian Mills, has written on urgent dental care.
On the initiative of Fleur Anderson MP, 101MPs from seven political parties have joined forces to demand immediate action from the Chancellor to save the UK’s dental services. The BDA[i] has applauded the initiative and says it builds on BDA polling showing over 70% of practices report they can only remain financially sustainable for three months or less and only one in five believe they can only survive the month.
Fleur Anderson MP said: “Unless urgent and immediate action is taken by the government, the entire dentistry sector in the UK faces financial ruin. Dentists are frontline health professionals providing a vital service to communities, we cannot abandon them. They are also vital local businesses and employers, but the Chancellor’s support package doesn’t cover them. I have been deeply alarmed by what dentists in my constituency have told me that they won’t be able to cover their costs for the next two months and so will have to close."
BDA Chair Mick Armstrong said: “Dentists across the country are grateful for the clear message coming from MPs from all parties. The Chancellor’s deal has left the UK’s dental services dangerously exposed. Dedicated health professionals aren’t looking for special treatment. We just need the same support that’s been given to our neighbours on the high street. Failure to act will only jeopardise the care millions of patients depend on."
Parliamentary Questions
Junior Health Minister, Jo Churchill MP, responded to questions from two MPs, who questioned the Department about financial support for NHS dental practices and the provision of personal protective equipment.
Replying to Ben Everitt, Conservative MP for Milton Keynes North, the Minister said NHS England had issued guidance setting out arrangements for NHS dental care during the pandemic period and the financial support being put in place for NHS dental contract holders and those working on NHS dental contracts. The intention was that as far as possible remuneration levels are unaffected.
Replying to Labour MP Afzal Khan, the Minister said that the Government was working to support and protect all frontline health and care staff during the pandemic, including dentists. The Government was working closely with industry, the NHS, social care providers and the army to ensure that PPE is delivered to those who need it.
Working together to deliver Urgent Dental Care
FGDP Dean Ian Mills has written[ii] that Urgent Dental Care centres may provide an excellent service, but they do not have the capacity to meet the need, and the number of dental practices involved needs to be rapidly increased to prevent the backlog of worsening cases becoming unmanageable.
He writes the Urgent Dental Centres, “which are currently operating, may provide an excellent service, but they do not have the capacity to deal with the current need, let alone the likely demand over the coming weeks. We desperately need to expand the service and it would make sense to use the existing network of practices and dental staff who have already indicated their willingness to help. Availability of appropriate PPE is vitally important but we must not allow the lack of supplies to be an excuse for a failure to identify sites, prepare facilities and train staff. We have facilities, equipment and staff on standby with the necessary skills and we must take advantage of this to treat patients who are in desperate need.”
He concludes: “We cannot eliminate risk in the dental surgery, we can only reduce it to an acceptable level. What is “acceptable” will be different for each individual, based on their own personal circumstances and their attitude to risk. I am confident this will change with time and we will eventually return to some semblance of normality. In the meantime, we need to focus on three things; staying safe, ensuring access for patients in need, and supporting each other through this extremely difficult time.”
BDA updates
To keep up to date with developments from the BDA, dentists should visit their Coronavirus update page[iii], which is available to all whether or not they are members and is continuously revised.
[i] https://www.bda.org/news-centre/press-releases/Pages/101-MPs-urge-Chancellor-to-throw-dentists-a-lifeline.aspx
[ii] https://www.fgdp.org.uk/news/working-together-deliver-urgent-dental-care
[iii] https://bda.org/advice/Coronavirus/Pages/latest-updates.aspx
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