The dental profession has appealed to the government in Northern Ireland to roll out urgent changes, including implementing the payment model followed by Scotland and protection from the ban on amalgam fillings.
The British Dental Association NI has made calls for changes to save NHS dentistry following the results of a new report.
A survey of 279 high street dentists in Northern Ireland revealed that three quarters (75%) of dentists in NI have reduced their NHS commitment since lockdown by an average of one quarter. Now, 88% say they intend to reduce – or further reduce – that commitment in the year ahead while 49% say they are likely to go fully private.
It also showed that only 20% of dentists report their practices as taking on new HS registrations. Around 39% of practices say they are operating at full capacity.
And almost two thirds (65%) cite higher needs patients requiring more clinical time as a factor constraining their practice from operating at pre-COVID capacity, reflecting the impact of the ongoing backlog.
Mitigate costs
Other findings include:
- Around 97% say costs to provide HS care have increased. Less than 1 in 10 (8%) believe the Department of Health has acted to adequately mitigate these costs. Some 97% say increased costs are putting HS dentistry at their practices at risk. Also, 94% say expenses are a factor in determining how much HS dentistry they can provide
- Without the Stormont Brake being applied, a ban on dental amalgam is expected from 1 January 2025. Without mitigations being put in place by DoH, 92% say it will reduce the amount of HS activity at their practice and 92% say this will increase costs for HS activity at their practice. The survey also shows that 91% say this will impact on higher needs patients seen at their practice and 88% say this will lead their practice to reduce or end its HS commitment
- Finally, 86% say authorities in NI should move at pace to roll out similar changes to the current low margin/high volume contractual framework that were rolled out in Scotland in November.
Nothing is inevitable
Ciara Gallagher, chair of the British Dental Association’s Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee, said: ‘NHS dentistry in Northern Ireland is on its knees and the amalgam ban could be the final blow.
‘Dentists have told us they are working in what feels like the final days of this service – delivering Health Service care at a loss and developing private work simply to break even.
‘None of this is inevitable. A restored Stormont has the power to ensure NHS dentistry can once again stand on its own two feet.
‘If it doesn’t, this service will die.’
BDA Northern Ireland will brief the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee (DSC) on Thursday 14 March 2024 at 10am.
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