Dentists in England will be paid more under government plans to give patients easier access to emergency care, but experts have expressed doubt that this will improve the quality of care.
Changes to be introduced from April next year will include incentives for dentists to provide urgent and complex care through the introduction of a standardized payment package, ministers said.
It aims to address the fact that many dentists have stopped their NHS-funded work due to fees. many procedures do not cover the associated costs.
The inability of millions of people across England to access NHS dental care has led to “dental deserts” And even “do-it-yourself dentistry”.
A patient observer report, published on Monday found that people needing emergency dental care in England were being denied NHS help despite recommendations it should be available, leading to some people having their teeth pulled.
The government said its changes would make it easier for patients needing urgent treatment to get appointments, and encourage dentists to provide emergency treatment for problems such as severe pain, infections or dental injuries. National Health Service.
Those who require complex care, such as treatment for severe gum disease, will be able to order a single treatment package rather than splitting it into several appointments. The government said it could save patients around £225.
Minister of Health Stephen Kinnock said it marked “the first step towards a new era of NHS dentistry after a decade of decline that benefits patients and our dedicated dentists.”
Kinnock added: “We are now tackling deep-rooted issues so patients can trust NHS dentistry – these changes will make it easier for everyone who needs urgent dental care to receive NHS treatment, preventing painful conditions from escalating into avoidable hospital admissions.”
Latest government results examination of the oral health of adults found that 41% of people had clear signs of tooth decay, similar to levels observed in the late 1990s.
While the government said the changes would be “the most significant overhaul of the NHS dental contract in years”, the British Dental Association (BDA) said there was “no new money behind the proposal”.
Shiv Pabari, chairman of the BDA's general dental practice committee, said the changes represented “the biggest change this failed contract has seen in its history”.
“We hope the changes can make life easier for doctors and patients, but this cannot be the end of the road,” he said. “We need a response proportionate to the challenges we face to ensure NHS dentistry has a sustainable future.”
Chris McCann, Deputy CEO, Healthwatch EnglandNHS watchdog, welcomed the move but added: “Short-term changes to the dental contract in recent years have failed to make significant progress in tackling the NHS dental crisis. Until the data is published, it is also unclear how the government is progressing on its promise to provide 700,000 new urgent dental visits.”
He added: “Transparent reporting on progress towards current targets and details of long-term, fundamental reform of the NHS dental contract are needed to improve public confidence.”
