Rishi Sunak announces a pay-rise for dentists

Recently, Rishi Sunak, Chancellor, stated that community and hospital dentists would receive a 2.8% pay rise in recognition of their tremendous contribution to leading the UK through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pay rise will be backdated to April; however, the BDA has mentioned that agreement on the concluding uplift to contract values for general dental practitioners is to be confirmed after the discussion on costs has taken place.

Mr Sunak stated: ‘These past months have underlined what we always knew, that our public sector workers make a vital contribution to our country and that we can rely on them when we need them. It’s right therefore that we follow the recommendations of the independent pay bodies with this set of real-terms pay rises.”

Chair of the Greater Manchester Local Dental Network, Mohsan Ahmad, stated: “It’s been publicised that we’re getting a pay rise but are NHS dental practices going to see it? The thing that concerns me is the consultation on expenses for general dental practices. The majority of dental practices are not generating lab bills, as they were pre-COVID, but are experiencing phenomenal increases in expenses due to PPE and cross infection products. I’d like to get some more information on this consultation. If we do see an increase, it’s a small step in the right direction; however, there’s been years of no real increases. To make a long term impact, this initial increase isn’t going to fix the problem. Our NHS dental services require continued financial investment, as do other parts of health and social care. Another challenge is if you’re a principal and you’ve had a big increase in expenses over the years, and now you’ve got the added expense of additional PPE too. I doubt they’ll be able to pass the publicised increase onto their associates and dental staff. Ideally, principals want to be able to pass any increases they get onto the whole team. But the reality is that the vast majority have seen a real-life reduction in income over the last few years. If this increase was made more consistent, practices would be able to get their heads around the ‘new normal’ and be able to better support their whole team.”

The Vice-Chair for the BDA, Eddie Crouch, stated: “These are difficult times for colleagues and that NHS dentists aren’t being handed another pay cut will offer some comfort. Before COVID-19 hit, years of pay restraint had already taken their toll. Above inflation, increases are starting to repair that damage and now must be pursued in tandem with other needed action to keep this service afloat. We’ve secured needed progress on abatement and pay. We now need to see a concerted strategy to ensure the nation’s dental services, both NHS and private, have a future.”