Therapists Not Riding To NHS Dentistry Rescue Anytime Soon
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- Published: Tuesday, 04 October 2022 07:58
- Written by Peter Ingle
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The faltering NHS contract reforms and attempts to improve access have taken another body blow, with an uncompromising announcement from the British Association of Dental therapists (BADT).
Sent to members and posted on their twitter account, it offers a stark warning to therapists of the pitfalls that await them. The BADT has an alliance with one of the largest dental indemnifiers, and it would seem likely that they will have had some input into the warnings.
Given the understandable ambitions of therapists and hygienists, whose skills remain woefully under-used, it will not be the advice that either the Association or its members wanted to hear. The reforms were presented by NHSE as the change that would finally allow them to work to their full scope of practice.
The statement begins by referencing the supposed ability of dental therapists and hygienists to open a course of treatment in their own right, a key part of the recently announced changes to help with access. Despite requests to NHSE for clarification none had been received by October 1st. The BADH advise that members show “extreme caution” if they intend to open courses of treatment. Members will be able to view a webinar on this topic later in October.
The problems do not end there. Patient Group Directives (PGD’s) are required if hygienists and therapists are to use a number of products in practice such as fluoride varnishes and local anaesthetic. Any satisfactory PGD’s would need to be drawn up with input from pharmacists and local commissioners. In their absence a Patient Specific Directive, (PSD) will be required which necessitates a dentist reviewing the notes or seeing the patient. An exemptions framework is being proposed but it will be at least a year before it is ready, and then specific training will be required before it can be used.
The continued drive to cut NHS spending in dentistry, is revealed in the final part of the BADH statement where it is confirmed that despite doing work that would otherwise be caried out by dentists, DCP’s will not receive the same NHS benefits. The Association have already started taking legal advice regarding this apparent discrimination by NHSE. Lastly the BADT add that they are consulting with the larger indemnifiers to see if they think that premiums will increase.
The professional body that represents one of the key groups that NHSE are banking on to end the access nightmare, have spoken. As things stand it seems unlikely that many therapists and hygienists will be riding to Professor Hurley’s or Dr Coffey’s rescue, anytime soon.
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