UK - NHS error as dentists get £128k

NHS error as dentists get £128kBy EMMA MORTON
Health Editor
September 22, 2007
HEALTH service dentists are earning up to £128,000 a year because a botched contract means they are forced to take on more private work.
Meanwhile thousands of people cannot get treatment after a swathe of practitioners went totally private.
In 2000 60 per cent of a dentist’s £60,000 earnings came from the NHS.
But a new contract introduced in 2005 paid them to meet targets — after which they would be compensated by a lump sum.
But the contract FAILED to distinguish between minor and major treatments — and a tricky procedure, like root canal surgery, takes longer.
Dentists found that if they took on such work they would not be paid as much as they should. And in some areas health chiefs ran out of money to pay them.
So the professionals began refusing complex NHS work — doing it privately instead. A massive 2,000 of Britain’s 20,000 dentists ended up refusing to take ANY NHS work. An NHS report yesterday revealed that has resulted in some salaries for health service dentists hitting almost £128,000. Both professionals and patients are angry about the mess, which has sparked fears the Government is privatising dentistry by the back door. Many adults now have to queue for days to try and register with an NHS practice. Peter Ward, of the British Dental Association, said: “The target-driven system limits the amount of NHS dentistry primary care trusts and local health boards can fund. The result is millions of people who want to access NHS dental care are still unable to do so.” Michael Summer, of the Patients’ Association, said: “The dental contract needs to be re-thought as it’s a very serious situation from a patient’s perspective. “Many are going without routine examinations which can detect serious diseases.” e.morton@the-