BDA criticises new stance on Northern Ireland dentists’ salaries

The British Dental Association (BDA) has expressed disappointment with new government policies on dental industry salaries in Northern Ireland.

Claudette Christie, the BDA’s director for Northern Ireland, has stated that the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety’s (DHSSPS’) new pay award policy is “unrealistic” and called for dentists to be given more support in a difficult economic climate.

This comes after the DHSSPS’ pay award delivered no increase to net earnings for high street dentists and a one per cent pay rise for salaried dentists employed by trusts, while practice expenses were given a “minimal uplift”.

Ms Christie said the announcement “does little” to support the aims to clinicians to maintain high standards of care for patients.

She added: “The idea that practitioners can reduce practice running costs does not reflect the reality of a situation where practices face sharply escalating costs.”

This comes after the BDA raised concerns last week that UK dentists are becoming increasingly burdened by regulations, which may be having an impact on quality of care.