Dentists' contract `not the answer'

From the archive, first published Thursday 9th Feb 2006.

New contracts will not ease the problem of a shortage of dentists, Bradford Council's Health Improve-ment Committee will be told.

Councillors will again hear how difficult it is for unregistered NHS patients to find dental care in the district, four months after agreeing last October to investigate the problem.

And local dentist Mark Edwards will explain why his colleagues believe new contracts, due to start on April 1, are flawed.

Mr Edwards, treasurer of Bradford's Local Dental Committee, says in a report to the committee that the contract is a "missed opportunity" by the Department of Health to improve dental services.

He said yesterday the old contract based on dentists being paid a fee for each bit of treatment was a "treadmill" which led to stress, burn-out and retirement through ill-health.

"Bradford district has lost a dentist a year for the last five years through ill-health or leaving general practice through stress," he said.

"As these dentists are all under the age of 50 that is a significant loss of the workforce. The only way to get off the treadmill is to go private."

But,Mr Edwards said, the new contract was being driven by the Treasury, not the Department of Health, and will not solve the problem.

He said dentists were being treated as tax collectors and not health professionals and said under the new system an NHS patient who needed a lost filling replaced would pay £42.40 when the private fee is £30.

"It is unfair, as a patient needing one filling will pay the same as a patient needing more than one," he said. "Dentists are expecting considerably more difficulty on reception."

Mr Edwards will tell the committee the advice of the Local Dental Committee is to sign the new contract to give it a chance and then reflect on it. If a dentist then feels he or she must leave the NHS, it can be done in a constructive and orderly manner, he said.

Also speaking to the committee will be Michelle Turner, acting director of primary care for Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust. She will talk about the role of the PCT in providing dental services.

Stella Robinson, clinical director for Airedale Primary Care Trust and Swarngit Shahid, clinical director for Bradford City Teaching Primary Care Trust, will also give a presentation on Bradford Personal Dental Service.

The committee meets on Tuesday at 4pm in Committee Room 3 at City Hall, Bradford.

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