When it comes to NHS dentistry what happens in Wales tends not to stay in Wales. A variety of contractual changes and key decision makers show links to the English service. Furthermore, since last summer both nations have had Labour administrations. Ministers Wes Streeting and Stephen Kinnock, must be watching the latest developments in Wales with some interest.
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Dentists are not looking for jobs and there‘s a ‘critical dentist shortage‘ a leading dental organisation, the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) is claiming.
With a world trade crisis brewing, the publication of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on fixing NHS dentistry may have been a little overlooked. The report on the UK parliament website does not mince its words. “Government‘s attempts to improve access to NHS dentistry have been a complete failure.”
Read more: Recovery Plan Branded “a complete failure” by the Public Accounts Committee
Independent charity the Oral Health Foundation has launched a stinging attack on the latest increase in NHS dental charges which took effect at the beginning of the month.
In 17 years {my}dentist has grown from its genesis of 3 practices in the North West of England to become the largest dental corporate in the world, with nearly 550 Practices across the UK.
The headline will be familiar to those with even a passing interest in the UK dental scene.
“Hard working families are struggling to cover basic health costs”
Another story speaks of “dental deserts” as well as, “a new surge of tooth decay.”
It appears that the soon to be axed NHS England will be going out with a bang. The arms-length body is to be merged with the Department of Health and Social Care, but it will be taking the despised 2006 UDA with it, into healthcare history.
The four nations of the UK may need four health ministers and four different systems of payment for NHS dental care, but they seem to manage with a single source for a good deal of clinical guidance.
The change to having Integrated Care Boards commissioning primary dental care was always going to offer as many threats as opportunities.