Government announces start of pilots
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- Published: Saturday, 17 December 2011 20:11
- Written by News Editor
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| The Government announced that 68 dental practices are now starting the new dental contract pilot studies. The trials will look at ways of increasing patient access and promoting preventative dental treatments like fluoride varnish. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “It is vital that patients receive high quality dental care and we are committed to promoting good oral health and preventing dental decay, especially in children.†The BDA said the dental pilots were a ‘positive step’.  |
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John Milne, who chairs the General Dental Practice Committee, said:
“The dental contract introduced in England in 2006 has been bad for patients and dentists alike. Based on an untried and untested system of Units of Dental Activity, it has put targets ahead of health, when health should be the target. In taking that approach it has failed to promote the modern, preventive approach to care that dentists want to provide and which patients would benefit from. The BDA has lobbied for this reform, playing a pivotal part in winning the House of Commons Health Select Committee inquiry and then the independent review by Professor Steele that have led to the development of the principles on which the pilots are based.
“In the run-up to the 2010 General Election I made a plea for Professor Steele’s report not to become a political football and encouraged dentists to engage with politicians to encourage whoever won the election to see the reform process through. It is a tribute to the lobbying of the profession that Steele’s principles have transcended a change of Government and have now reached the stage where pilots are being officially launched.
“This announcement is a positive step and the pilots must now be given the time they need to produce meaningful results and a clear direction for any final arrangements. It is also important that Government continues to engage with the BDA as reform progresses and new NHS structures are developed. The General Dental Practice Committee will continue its policy of vigilant engagement as the process moves forward.”
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