BDA Issues Warnings, As Scotland Takes First Steps Towards Providing Free NHS Dental Treatment

BDA Issues Warnings, As Scotland Takes First Steps Towards Providing Free NHS Dental Treatment

Scotland is moving closer to an abolition of NHS dental charges after an announcement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.

Mr Humza Yousaf has written to NHS dental teams to announce that the Scottish Government intends to provide free NHS dental care for young people aged 18 to 25 inclusive, after laying a legislative instrument in the Scottish Parliament.

The announcement came just a few days after Dr Shawn Charlwood, Chair of the BDA General Dental Practice Committee asked the national Local Dental Committee Conference “Should we not have a system where entry to the NHS dental system is free in terms of examination, to actually support access in a practical and meaningful way access rather than talking about it?”

The Scottish National Party made an election pledge before the last Scottish election to abolish all NHS dental charges during the course of the current Parliament.

But the British Dental Association Scotland, has written to the Cabinet Secretary, reiterating concerns the BDA expressed  at a meeting they recently had with Mr Yousaf.

The BDA wrote on its news website that it has warned at the problem of “Managing patients’ expectations about limited access to routine dentistry as the profession is already under considerable pressure and the pledge to abolish NHS dental charges is likely to increase patient demand.”

In a letter to Mr Yousaf, the BDA said “It is essential that the Scottish Government manages patients’ expectations about limited access to routine dentistry – at least for the foreseeable future – as dentists are only able to see a limited number of patients each day.”

The BDA continued “The new long-term financial model needs to ensure NHS dentistry is sufficiently resourced to remain sustainable and accessible to all those who need it, regardless of income, and is an attractive career choice for the next generation of dentists.”

The letter to the Cabinet Secretary was signed by David McColl, Chair of the Scottish Dental Practice Committee and Phil Grigor National Director of BDA Scotland.

Mr Yousaf said the SNP also had a 100-day commitment to remove dental charges for young people that are ‘care experienced.’

“In laying this instrument it is the intention of the Government to widen the commitment to all young people.”

“Our rationale is that the oral health of young people often suffers as they move out of the family home, away from the supervision of parents for the first time. I am also particularly mindful of the disproportionate economic impact of the pandemic on our young people.”

The Cabinet Secretary continued “At the same time I fully appreciate the challenges that NHS dental teams continue to face during this period. The situation is particularly hard on the dental sector, with added infection, prevention and control measures making it impossible for dental teams to see the same numbers of patients as before the onset of the pandemic.”

“I appreciate that all of you are having to work through a significant backlog of patients under these restrictions. I am therefore taking a close interest in the welfare of our NHS dental service.”

“We currently have in place a set of emergency financial support measures to mitigate the worst financial impact on NHS dental services during the pandemic. However, in a recent meeting with BDA Scotland I was impressed by the need for interim financial support, offering a more sustainable support base as we move forward with the remobilisation of NHS dental services.”

“I can confirm that we are looking at this alongside the legislative changes, and will be discussing these arrangements with BDA Scotland during the summer.

We have recently announced £5m of new funding to support improved ventilation in practice, as well as a 50% increase in free PPE to NHS dental teams.”

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