COVID-19: Tuesday Update: Scotland, BDA Indemnity and CQC
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- Published: Tuesday, 31 March 2020 20:54
- Written by News Editor
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The BDA reports on a new funding package for Scotland, costs reduction up to 80% on its indemnity package and news from the CQC that they are considering action against practices still offering routine care. They are seeking clarity on NHS payments to dentists, PPE, urgent care centres, redeployment, furlough and they we will continue to press the Government on the issue of financial support for the self-employed.
The BDA’s Coronavirus update page[i] is available to all whether or not they are members and is continuously revised.
New funding package for Scotland
CDO Scotland, Tom Ferris, has announced a new funding package for GDS dentists there, replacing that announced on March 17. It will provide for 80% of the practice’s average income from item of service and patient contributions. This funding is in addition to capitation and continuing care payments, GDPA, rent reimbursement and commitment payments, which will continue to be paid. The full details will be provided in a memorandum to follow asap.
BDA Indemnity offers cost reductions of up to 80%
To support members during the COVID-19 pandemic, the BDA will be enabling them to immediately reduce rates of their Indemnity coverage while maintaining all of the benefits, protections and security of the RSA-underwritten policy. They say the adjusted rates ‘reflect the dramatic changes in working hours and workload of dentists’, and typically represent savings of 70-80% for associates and 65-70% for practice owners who were previously working the equivalent of 3 days or more per week.
CQC considering action against practices offering routine care
The Care Quality Commission have announced that they are prepared to take action against dental practices who are still seeing patients for routine treatments. This follows the call last week from NHS England for all dentists to cease routine treatment. Since this advice was issued, it has become clear that some practices are still seeing patients for routine care including aerosol-generating procedures. This would expose the dental staff and the public to unnecessary risk of virus transmission. The CQC have said that where these reports are accurate, they will consider taking action using their regulatory powers.
[i] https://bda.org/advice/Coronavirus/Pages/latest-updates.aspx
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