BDA wants to end confusion over patients’ charges
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- Published: Thursday, 06 April 2017 07:45
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The BDA says there is confusion over patients’ exemptions from charges keeping children and vulnerable patients from receiving support with treatment. A poll found that just 74% of parents thought routine dental check-ups are free for children and over 50,000 fines are being issued a year for misclaiming free dentistry.
Children and vulnerable patients risk losing out on access to free NHS dental treatment because of poor promotion and signposting of charge exemptions says the British Dental Association (BDA), as polling shows that just 74% of parents are aware that routine check-ups are free for children aged under 18. Following the latest 5% rise in NHS dental charges in England (from 1 April) dentist leaders have called on government to end the ‘confusion by design’ that’s helping keep young and vulnerable patients away from their right to free NHS dentistry.
A poll of 910 GB parents of children aged under 18 years old by YouGov found just 74% of parents thought routine dental check-ups are free for children under 18. Only 69% thought fillings are free for under 18s. Only 54% thought the same for orthodontic work. Younger parents demonstrated less awareness on free check-ups for their children, with awareness at 67% among parents aged 25-34, and falling to 62% among parents aged 18-24.
42% of parents have delayed a routine dental check-up for themselves because of dental treatment costs – Nearly 1 in 10 parents (8%) admit to doing the same for one or more of their children aged under 18– even though no charges apply. Tooth decay is the number one reason for hospital admissions among children.
Freedom of Information requests from the NHS Business Services Authority now show that 117,882 fines have been issued for misclaiming free dentistry since May 2014. However nearly a large majority (86.7%) of all appeals against penalties are now being been won.
The BDA accuses the government of failing to promote free access, and of using heavy handed tactics through the £100 penalty fines levied on those ‘inappropriately’ claiming access. Official figures show that nearly 9 out of 10 appeals against these penalties are now being won. The BDA has said these fines are hitting a wide range of groups including those with dementia, Special Educational Needs (SEN) and their carers who are often unable to complete the required paperwork accurately.
In a new report launching to mark the latest increase in NHS charges the BDA has said government must reassess their approach to minimise barriers to care and end the inflation-busting increases that are now plugging holes in the budget left by declining state investment. The BDA estimate charges will overtake direct funding as the principle source of revenue for the service in England within a generation.
Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen, the BDA’s Chair of General Dental Practice said: “NHS charges exist to discourage patients from seeking dental treatment, and now appear to be delivering results even among those who don’t need to pay. Nearly 5 million children are failing to attend at an NHS dentist each year and extractions are surging. The fact so many parents are simply unaware these check-ups are free of charge shows just how little energy the government is putting into prevention.
“We have vulnerable patients who either cannot navigate the bureaucracy or are simply never made aware of their entitlements. What looks like confusion by design is leaving parents in the dark and dementia patients on the receiving end of £100 fines. Britain faces deep seated dental health inequalities, yet Ministers’ top priorities are keeping demand down and the revenue rolling in. These charge hikes don’t put a penny of extra investment into the service and reform is required so no one in real need has to think twice about seeking our care.”
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