The British Dental Trade Association comments on the Health Committee Report on Dental Services

Members of the Health Committee described the report as condemnatory when it was released yesterday.  It certainly contains a fairly damning indictment of the new contract which it says has failed to improve access to NHS dentistry.  It is critical of the UDA payment scheme and of the lack of training given to Primary Care Trusts in how to deal with their new dental responsibilities.  The BDTA welcomes the report, which highlights many of the concerns that have been voiced by the industry.  In particular, the BDTA is pleased to see that the Committee has called for an urgent enquiry into the reason for the dramatic fall in complex treatments and on the long-term effects that this will have on the oral health of patients.

Tony Reed, Executive Director of the BDTA said, “There is no doubt that many dentists are dissatisfied with the financial aspects of the new contract and that they are struggling to deal with the uncertainties inherent in the UDA system and it is heartening to see that the Committee has recognised this.  The BDTA shares the Committee’s concerns about the changing treatment patterns and welcomes the recommendation for urgent evidence-based research into the cause.”

A full copy of the report can be donwloaded from:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmhealth/289/289i .pdf

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