BDA calls for accelerated government action on dental reforms

The British Dental Association (BDA) has urged the government to speed up its efforts to reform and improve contractual arrangements in the dental sector.

Addressing attendees at the 2014 Conference of Local Dental Committees, the organisation called on the Department of Health and NHS England to move forward with prototype plans to replace the overly target-driven system that is currently in place.

Pilots were introduced in 2011, giving the government time to establish what works and what does not. It now needs to produce a clear timetable and a roadmap to implementation, giving dentists time to prepare for what is to come, according to the BDA.

Dr John Milne, chair of the association's general dental practice committee, said: "I encourage dentists to give their feedback to the Department of Health engagement exercise designed to ascertain from dentists what they think of the planned prototypes and to make these as useful as possible."

He added that any changes should build on the pilots' work in advancing the preventative approach and improving patients' oral health.

This comes after the BDA issued a criticism of the government earlier this month over plans to cut the amount paid to foundation dentists.