All funding measures introduced to support dentists during the pandemic will be withdrawn by April next year – a move dentists say will devastate dental services across the country.

Scotland’s dental sector will return to the pre-pandemic blended payments system.

In a letter sent to all dental practices today, Scotland’s Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said he ‘does not believe there is any other practical or value for money alternative’.

But the British Dental Association Scotland has warned this model of work is ‘simply unsustainable under current conditions’.

David McColl, Chair of the British Dental Association’s (BDA) Scottish Dental Practice Committee said: “The Scottish government seems set to pull the rug out from under every dedicated NHS dentist.

“If ministers had an objective to decimate NHS dentistry, this approach would offer a great starting point. To signal the return of a ‘business as usual’ model when the country is still in the grip of a pandemic is utterly reckless. The net result will be to push colleagues out of the NHS and to leave this profession altogether.

“Ministers put NHS dentistry front and centre in their pitch for government. To deliver on their promises we need real commitment to find a new and better way for delivering for the patients that need us.”

Humza Yousaf said wider reform for NHS dentistry ‘is something that will need to be addressed’ but did not think it was ‘prudent’ to introduce substantial changes now.

Further development, Mr Yousaf suggested, would not begin until 2022/23.

A freedom of information request by BDA Scotland back in August shows practices are facing a backlog of almost 1.5 million missed appointments throughout the pandemic.

The organisation say the return to a low margin and high volume of care delivery will only raise patient expectations.

After dentists were given just one full day’s notice to prepare before free care for 18-25-year-olds was implemented back in August, Mr McColl said the Scottish government “hasn’t fully understood the operation of dental practice throughout this pandemic”.

The government has committed to making NHS care free for all at the point of use.

But the BDA has stressed this approach runs counter to that vision.

The Scottish government said: “Our commitment as a Government is to build back NHS dentistry, and ensure NHS dental teams are focused on the need to tackle the backlog in routine dental care, our plans will help them to see more patients face-to-face.

“Ministers and patients have a legitimate expectation that after nearly two years of reduced access to NHS dental services, that this situation is recovered as soon as possible. Now is not the time to create wholesale changes to the dental sector, which would take considerable time, the priority must be on seeing patients and helping to clear current backlogs.

“This latest package builds on recent announcements of £7.5m for new dental drills and £5m for ventilation improvements, with a particular emphasis on children and tackling oral health inequalities.”

 

Read more:  Dentists’ ‘colossal backlog’ as free services expand; "Overwhelmed" dentists fear looming oral health crisis

 

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