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Dentists set to lose out on funding
New NHS targets are 'unrealistic'
A CHALK Farm NHS dental practice is set to lose 70 per cent
of its funding due to a radical overhaul of how targets are
hit.
From April 1, funding for dental practices will depend on dentists
hitting targets, or Units of Dental Activity (UDA). The targets
are based on how many patients they treated on the NHS last
year.
They will have to sign new contracts with the Primary Care Trusts
promising to hit targets and be held accountable if they do
not.
Registration will be abolished under the changes, meaning patients
will no longer be “on the books” at any practice.
An opponent of the scheme John Renshaw chairman of the British
Dental Association, met the Camden and Islington Dental Committee
in the Royal National Hotel, Bloomsbury, on Thursday.
Mr Renshaw, who criticised the government for not consulting
dentists about the change, said: “This is going to happen,
and it has been inspired with no input from the profession.”
He urged dentists to sign a statement reading: “The new
contract is discouraging me from working as an NHS dentist”
– and send it to Minister of State for Health Rosie Winterton.
Dentists say the new targets – which amount to dentists
performing routine check-ups in just 12 minutes – are unrealistic.
Alan Bookey, who has worked in Albany Dental Centre in Haverstock
Hill, Chalk Farm, for 20 years, said his funding had been slashed
from £300,000 to £90,000 for NHS treatment next
year.
He said: “We won’t lose staff or have to close the
practice. It just means we will only be able to do one or two
days worth of NHS treatment.”
Mr Bookey said the concept of a community dentist would change.
He said: “I will have to turn away people I have treated
since they were kids.”
Iain Tunnah, who works at Khambalia Dental Surgery in Tavistock
Place, Bloomsbury – where former Health Secretary Frank
Dobson has his regular check-ups – said the new system
could see dentists forced to work for free or offer private
care.
He said: “It leaves two options – treat people for
free or offer them private treatment instead.” |
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