NHS dentistry ‘under a heavy cloud’

The Liberal Democrats have criticised the government’s handling of NHS dentistry following a recent report suggesting that more than 1,000 dental contracts remain in dispute.

Commenting on the situation, Sandra Gidley, Liberal Democrat health spokesperson, said that the news, which comes six months after the government introduced the new contract, will not be encouraging for patients, a number of whom continue to have difficulty finding an NHS dentist.

Ms Gidley argues that the length of time taken to rectify the situation “leaves a heavy cloud” over the NHS and those it currently employs and is likely to have a negative impact upon care.

“The government seems hell-bent on driving through reforms without regard to their impact on patients or professionals, resulting in the current mess,” she claims.

Last month, the British Dental Association (BDA) reported that the contractual reforms introduced in April did not allow 55 per cent of dentists to see more patients, while a further 62 per cent of respondents did not expect to be able to see a greater number of patients in the future.

Lester Ellman, chairman of the BDA, said that the contract was “failing” to improve access to NHS services for patients.