BDA says NHS dentists to receive pay rise in 2 stages

The British Dental Association has said that NHS dentists in England will receive a 1.68% pay uplift in December, which will be backdated to April 2018, with an additional rise of 0.65% taking effect from 1 April 2019. The BDA have described this as a below-inflation pay rise that will not do anything to stem the tide of recruitment issues currently facing NHS dentistry.
Eddie Crouch, vice chair of the British Dental Association, said: “Dentists are usually bitterly resigned to the late application of the contract in addition to the paltry amount being offered, however this year’s delays represent a new low. Pushing the uplift back cannot be justified given the challenges practices are facing to simply maintain viability. For reasons of affordability, the recommended uplift was announced as a staged award back in July. We know the profession has suffered under austerity and pay restraint. Even though pay ceilings have been lifted we are still adversely affected. While the Government is tied up by Brexit negotiations and political wrangling, hardworking NHS dental colleagues are seeing ever eroding income and decline in earnings. A once stable profession is struggling to stay afloat and maintain the high quality care that our patients deserve. The anger and frustration across the profession is palpable. These delays have been unacceptable, the failure to implement the award in full in 2018 is inexcusable. Continued unwillingness to recognise a profession at the very limits of its patience will leave NHS services in a perilous position.”