The long-awaited NHS Dental Recovery Plan was released on 7th February. It details new measures that will be put in place to tackle the current NHS Dental crisis.
We’ve asked Matthew Norton, Senior Client Manager to outline everything you need to know so far.
Take it away Matt
It’s suggested that millions more will now receive dental appointments that will be offered under the NHS Dental Plan, which is meant to ensure both easier and faster access to NHS dental care across England.
The plan could see up to 2.5 million additional NHS dental appointments delivered for patients over the next 12 months, including up to 1.5 million extra treatments being delivered. It also sets out how the NHS and government will drive a major new focus on prevention and good oral health in young children and deliver an expanded dental workforce.
So, what new measures are being put in place?
Here is what has been suggested so far for the NHS Dental Recovery Plan:
- NHS dentists will be given a ‘new patient’ payment of between £15 to £50 (depending on treatment need) to treat around a million new patients who have not seen an NHS dentist in two years or more.
- Around 240 dentists will be offered one-off payments of up to £20,000 for working in under-served areas for up to three years.
- A new ‘Smile for Life’ initiative, offering advice to parents and parents-to-be offered on the right care for baby gums and milk teeth.
- The minimum value of NHS activity increasing to £28 (from £23).
- ‘Dental vans’ sent to rural areas to help reach the most isolated communities.
- A water fluoridation programme to be rolled out by government (subject to consultation).
The ‘Smile For Life’ programme will see parents and parents-to-be offered advice for baby gums and milk teeth, with the aim that by the time children go to school, every child will see tooth brushing as a normal part of their day.
To help attract new NHS dentists and to improve access to care in areas with the highest demand, around 240 dentists will be offered one-off payments of up to £20,000 for working in under-served areas for up to three years.
The public will also be able to see which practices in their local area are accepting new patients on the NHS website and the NHS App. NHS work will also be made more attractive to dental teams, with the minimum value of activity increasing to £28 (from £23).
Matt’s thoughts
The Units of Dental Activity (UDA) rate increase has a positive impact on some dental practices, but many will not see any benefit of this. Its also crucial to know if this increase in the UDA rate for some practices is going to have a negative impact on future, annual contract uplift rates.
Whilst the number of training places being increased is positive, this unfortunately won’t see any tangible benefit for several years.
The payments for seeing new patients may be of interest to some dental practices who have the spare surgery time and dentist time to go and see those patients, but many practices are struggling to even see their existing patients. This measure will likely have limited use for them. We will also need to await more details on how the practices will apply for the extra payments and how the funding is split across the country.
This news will come as a disappointment to many who were hoping for fundamental changes to the NHS contract itself, rather than the series of tweaks and short term fixes that have been given.
Here to help
If you have any questions or concerns about the NHS Dental Recovery Plan, and what it could mean for dentists or your dental practice, we are here to help. To speak to one of our Specialist Dental Accountants, please call 0151 348 8400.
