BDA Inform Profession - NHS Dentistry Pay is CUT AGAIN
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- Published: Friday, 10 January 2025 12:34
- Written by News Editor
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After record-breaking delays, and clearly very careful consideration, Ministers have now approved yet another real terms pay reduction for dentists in England.
Contract holders will receive an overall uplift of 4.64% backdated to April 2024, based on a 6% uplift for pay and only 1.68% for practice expenses.
The Doctors and Dentists Review Body recommended a derisory 6% uplift for pay last year, but Ministers have decided to allocate only 1.68% for practice expenses, resulting in this inadequate overall uplift.
This short-sighted approach will only exacerbate the exodus from NHS dentistry. Many providers are already delivering NHS care at a financial loss, having to cross-subsidise loss-making NHS activity with private work. Further pressure will be exerted in April via the substantial increases in overheads delivered by the recent Budget. There is still no clarity on what mitigations will be offered.
This week, a petition was delivered to Downing Street, co-signed by over a quarter of a million supporters, calling for urgency and ambition to save the service.
Wes Streeting acknowledged in Parliament this week that NHS dentistry is in dire straits.
Handing dentists a pay cut after record-breaking delays will not alter the prognosis.
Eddie Crouch of the BDA said: "These cuts will come at a high price in the goodwill that is now in short supply".
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