England Envious As Wales Waves Farewell To UDA’s
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- Published: Friday, 02 July 2021 06:46
- Written by Chris Tapper
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England’s NHS dentists will be casting an envious glance over the border, after the Welsh Government announced that the principality’s practitioners will never be returning to the ‘failed’ UDA system.
In a written statement by Minister for Health and Social Services Eluned Morgan, the Welsh Government said “COVID-19 remains a public health concern and dental teams need to maintain necessary infection control measures.”
“We have therefore decided to delay the contract reform component of system change until April 2022.”
“We are now viewing this year as a reset and recovery period but are committed to system reform in dentistry and moving forward collaboratively with the programme in 2022.”
“We do not want to see a drift back to previous ways of measuring activity when we have made such improvements using more clinically meaningful measures developed with dental teams.”
Wales has committed to be part of contract reform and had hoped to restart the contract reform process in October 2021.
Baroness Morgan wrote “Instead of Units of Dental Activity to monitor contracts, four alternative measures are being developed and tested.”
“This work, using all members of the dental team, prepares the ground for contract reform re-start and we remain committed to the principles of Prudent Healthcare. We want to see dental clinicians continue to expand ‘using the whole team’ in care and delivery and focus on outcomes.”
“Increasing the use of skill mix in dentistry is, and will be, a key element of system reform.”
She went on “It is intended these measures will be used over the next couple of years without change, to give stability to practices and health boards.”
“Starting contract reform in April 2022 will be a familiar way of working and discussions are on-going regarding the legal requirement for any change to Regulations or Directions for 2022-23.”
After the announcement the BDA News website said “The British Dental Association Cymru has lauded the statement from Baroness Morgan, which indicates there will be no return to the failed system NHS dentistry operated to prior to COVID.”
“The widely discredited target-based contract for high street dentistry, in operation since 2006, was effectively suspended at the onset of lockdown. It capped patient numbers, failed to reward preventive work, and fuelled both access problems and a collapse in morale among the profession.”
The Chief Dental Officer for Wales, Dr Colette Bridgman ended her role on July 1st. The BDA said “She has ensured that continuity plans are in place until her successor is appointed.”
“The BDA has stressed its commitment to work with the new CDO to ensure that the profession is fully consulted every step of the way towards a reformed NHS contract that works for the profession and patients.”
On her last official day, Dr Bridgman tweeted:
Well it’s over. I have been a dentist since 1983. I am just about to log off on last day as CDO Wales. What an amazing profession dentistry is I have loved being part of it. Thanks to everyone I have worked with over the years but especially in GM & Wales Xx pic.twitter.com/bICHLcXpcY
— Colette Bridgman (@ColetteBridgman) July 1, 2021
Russell Gidney, Chair of the BDA’s Welsh General Dental Practice Committee, said of the announcement “This is welcome news for families across Wales.”
“It means there will be no turning back to a failed system that put government targets ahead of patient care.”
“In Wales at least we are assured that the mantra of build back better is actually being applied to our health services.”
The Welsh Plan for Health and Social Care document states that “All patients attending NHS primary dental care services will receive an oral health risk and need assessment, using the Assessment of Clinical Oral Risk and Need (ACORN), at least once a year.”
As part of its aim to establish a prevention-led dental service, the document said “The dental team will support patients and those that care for them to understand their oral health status and the behaviours they can change to reduce their risk of oral disease.”
The Welsh Government says it hopes to achieve an “Effective use of skill mix” within dental practices and specialist services.
It says that the aim is to achieve an increase in the numbers of hygienists, dental therapists and dental nurses, “With additional skills trained and retained in Wales, and working to the extent of their scope of practise.”
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