Dentists seek urgent answers from UK Government
The minister will face a demanding audience, with many questions over reforms to NHS dentistry still unanswered. The Government is planning a massive overhaul of NHS dentistry in just nine months, but dentists say they still lack the necessary information about what those plans will mean for them in real terms. Unless the Government does something to quell dentists fears, it could see thousands of them leaving the NHS, according to a recent BDA survey.
Peter Hodgkinson, Chair of this year's LDC Conference, said:
"We are just nine months away from some of the biggest changes the service has seen since the NHS was set up in 1948, yet most dentists are still unsure as to how these changes will affect them. The minister needs to recognise that we have a highly dedicated dental workforce out there, but the time will come when they will say 'enough is enough'. If the minister doesn't come up with the goods soon, it may be too late."
Funding continues to be a major concern among dentists. LDCs have called for dentistry to be included on the NHS escalator - the general increase in NHS spend - to help turn around the chronic under-investment that the service has faced over the last decade.
Dr Hodgkinson continued:
"The difficulties faced by patients in accessing NHS dental care are only likely to get worse if the Government continues to ignore dentists' thoughts and fears. Dentists need to know what these changes will mean for them and their practices. The longer the Government leaves it, the worse things will be for patients."
Rosie Winterton is due to address the LDC Conference at 1000 on Friday 11 June 2004.
Ends
Notes to editors
1. Local dental committees are statutory bodies recognised by PCTs as being representative of general dental practitioners working in their areas. They hold an annual conference to debate issues relating to the provision of dentistry.
2. The LDC Conference will take place at the Britannia Hotel in London's Docklands on Friday 11 June. For press passes, please contact the BDA on 020 7563 4146.
3. The framework for the Government's proposed overhaul of NHS dentistry is contained in the Health & Social Care (Community Standards) Act 2003. It will see funding for NHS dentistry in England and Wales devolved down to local primary care trusts, which will take on the power to commission services. For further information, or to request an interview, please contact the BDA's Media & PR team on 020 7563 4580.
British Dental Association
Stomatologi de urgenþã cãuta rãspunsuri de la Guvernul Regatului Unit - Dentists seek urgent answers from UK Government - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate