Poor pay is pushing talent out of NHS, says BDA

Poor pay is pushing talent out of NHS, says BDA

The UK government’s approach to pay is driving talent out of the NHS, according to the British Dental Association.

This comes as the association holds talks with the Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, this morning.

The Department of Health and Social Care, says the BDA, has confirmed a ‘substantially delayed’ uplift in contract values for general dental practice in England. It sits at 4.75% for 2022/23, reflecting a 4.5% rise in pay – with an additional uplift applied for practice expenses.

With inflation at an historic high, the association argues that this corresponds to real terms cuts to NHS funding.

Dentists in England have already seen their real incomes collapse by nearly 40% since the financial crash.

Research undertaken by the BBC shows that nine in ten practices are reporting as unable to take on new adult patients on the NHS.

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‘Act of self-harm’

The BDA’s chair Eddie Crouch said: ‘England’s dentists have just been handed an unprecedented pay cut at the eleventh hour. If Steve Barclay wants to win over NHS colleagues, he must turn the page.

‘Current pay review processes offer textbook examples of what not to do.

‘Every dedicated health professional requires fair and timely pay uplifts. When so many are reconsidering their future in the NHS, to do otherwise is an act of self-harm.’


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