MP’s Back BDA And Healthwatch – Scotland Loses 75% Of Dental Treatments
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- Published: Wednesday, 27 October 2021 08:29
- Written by Chris Tapper
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Shocking new figures show that NHS dental treatments carried out in Scotland dropped by more than 75% in 2020 compared to 2019.
Statistics released by Public Health Scotland yesterday showed that for youngsters under the age of 18, the number of treatments carried out by the General Dental Service was just over 113,000.
In the previous 12 months (2019-20), the number treated was 357,000 – the figure represented a 75.9% drop in procedures carried out.
Public Health Scotland (PHS) said simply “This decrease is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
For adults over 18, the PHS ‘fees and treatments’ report said “In 2020/21 the number of courses of treatment authorised was just over 966,000, a decrease of over 3 million (76.5%) from 2019/20.”
The more alarming statistic in the report was that about half of the treatments claimed for patients were for triage activity.
For children, 49.5% of the treatment claims PHS analysed were for triage.
Of authorised adult treatments, 50.7% were for triage activity.
BBC News reported “Fees paid to dental practices for treatments dropped to a record low of £135.5m, which was £163.1m less than the previous year.”
The BDA News website said “The British Dental Association Scotland has warned new data underlining the scale of the backlogs facing practices demonstrates the absurdity of government plans to return to pre-COVID models of care.”
“Last week Cabinet Secretary Humza Yousaf wrote to all NHS dental teams in Scotland that all emergency support will be withdrawn by 1 April 2022. Since the first lockdown NHS practices have operated under a COVID support package, reflecting pandemic pressures and tight infection control restrictions that continue to limit capacity across the service.”
BDA News said “Owing to ongoing disruption dentist leaders stress patients are now presenting with higher levels of need, requiring additional time. BDA Scotland have warned that the return to a ’business as usual model’ – low margin and high volume – will put practices under unsustainable financial pressure and will likely lead to closures or movement to the private sector.”
The website said that BDA Scotland has stressed the need to develop a new, sustainable model for delivering care.
Dr David McColl, Chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee told BDA News "Dentists are facing an unprecedented backlog, as we continue to work to restrictions designed in the first lockdown.”
"This new data underlines the sheer perversity of government plans to pretend COVID is yesterday’s news.”
"Withdrawing emergency funding will pull away the life support from hundreds of dedicated NHS practices serving communities across Scotland."
MP’s Support Sustainable Funding
Meanwhile, the BDA has welcomed “The wide range of political support calling for sustainable funding to underpin the rebuild of NHS dentistry in England.”
The British Dental Association has welcomed the wide range of political support calling for sustainable funding to underpin the rebuild of NHS dentistry in England.
In an open letter to Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Simon Clarke over 40 MPs from both sides of the House of Commons have called on him ‘To ensure the coming budget and Spending Review put the building blocks in place for a sustainable recovery following the pandemic.”
The MP’s letter followed the lead sent by the BDA and Healthwatch last week, to Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Outlining their concerns regarding the millions of dental appointments lost due to COVID-19, the letter said “In past years, NHS dental budgets have failed to keep up with inflation and population growth. We understand none of the additional £5.4 billion announced last month to help tackle COVID-19 backlogs will be used to support our badly hit dental services.”
“As NHS dentistry faces this unprecedented challenge, it is crucial that resources are in place to ensure the recovery, underpin promised reform, and guarantee the long-term sustainability of the service our constituents rely on.”
The letter was led by Yvette Cooper and backed by Sir Peter Bottomley and Harriet Harmon.
BDA Chair Dr Eddie Crouch told BDA News "The breadth of voices here reflects the depth of the crisis facing families across England.”
"Providing the funds to rebuild a decent NHS dental service isn’t a partisan issue.”
"The Treasury has a choice, and investment here can offer a brighter future for millions of patients."
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