Dental leaders calls on DoH to back up claims

The British Dental Association (BDA) has written to the Department Of Health asking for data to substantiate its accusations that dentists in England are ‘gaming' the new general dental services contract.

The DoH allegation is that healthy patients are being recalled too frequently for check ups.

Responding, BDA executive board chair Susie Sanderson said: ‘The British Dental Association does not have the necessary data to comment on these suggestions.

‘If the Department of Health does, it should share that information so that it can be investigated and better understood.

‘The Interval between recalls is, according to NICE guidelines published in 2004 and supported by the BDA, a matter for a practitioner's clinical judgement in consultation with the patient.

For adult patients, that interval is required to be between three and 24 months.

She added: ‘The significant problems with the new dental contract have been recognised this year by the House of Commons' Health Select Committee.

‘Dentists across the country are working hard to deliver the best possible care for their patients despite those problems. What those dentists need is the support and constructive dialogue the profession has been calling for, not allegations of wrongdoing from the architects of the reforms.'



 Posted on : Mon 20th - Oct - 2008