DT News - UK - Rise in NHS dental charges met with refusal

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 15 March 2016

save

LONDON, UK: Friday’s announcement by the Department of Health that NHS dental fees will be increased in the upcoming and the following year has received negative response from both opposition and dentists. Labour’s Shadow Public Health Minister, Andrew Gwynne, said over the weekend that the government plans, which also include a rise in prescription fees, are a kick in the teeth of patients.

“Prescription charges and dental fees can really build up and impose a considerable cost, particularly at a time when family budgets are being squeezed. The truth is Tory Ministers are increasing these charges because they’ve lost control of NHS finances. Hospitals are forecasting huge deficits and spending on agency staff has gone through the roof,” he remarked on the plans. “Patients shouldn’t have to pay the price for this government’s financial mismanagement of the NHS.”

Dental associations have also reacted negatively, saying the rise could result in fewer patients seeing a dentist.

“This money doesn’t go to NHS dentists—they are being asked to play the role of tax collector, while our patients are singled out to subsidise the health service. We can’t tell them how this extra money will be spent, and whether a penny of it will actually end up improving dental care or access to dental services,” Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen, chairperson of the General Dental Practice Committee of the British Dental Association, said in a statement.

Dental charges by the NHS will see a sharp hike of 5 per cent in 2016 and 2017, according to a statement released by the Department of Health last Friday. Fees for dental examinations will increase from £18.80 to £19.70 in 2016–17 and to £20.60 in 2017–18. Band 2 procedures will rise from £51.30 to £53.90 in 2016–17 and to £56.30 in 2017–18, while Band 3 treatment will cost £233.70 in 2016–17 and £244.30 in 2017–18.

The increases are substantial, as dental charges have only increased by 20 per cent over the last ten years. Together with higher charges on prescriptions, the extra revenues are supposed to allow for £22 billion of “efficiency savings”, Minister of State for Community and Social Care Alistair Burt said.

The new charges will become effective in April.

To post a reply please login or register

UK government's increase in dental charges met with criticism

LONDON, UK: The British Dental Association (BDA) and Oral Health Foundation have both come out strongly against the UK government’s recent decision to ...

Net profits rise, with NHS and private practices leaping ahead

LONDON, UK: New figures presented by the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers (NASDAL) on Tuesday have shown profits widening ...

NHS dental pay rise outstripped by soaring inflation

LONDON, UK: In many parts of the world, growing inflationary pressures are causing the cost of living to increase sharply. To help remedy this stress, the ...

Another dental student charged with terrorist offences

LONDON, UK: Local newspapers are reporting that a dental student from Plymouth will have to stand trial for terrorist offences in London next month. The ...

Government increases NHS charges amid criticism from dentists

LONDON, UK: From April on, patients visiting an NHS dentist will have to pay more for their treatment. According to the government, charges for all types of...

Proposal to limit access to NHS Pension Scheme met with criticism

LONDON, UK: The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) recently announced plans to provide the Secretary of State with the power to suspend a ...

British patients more satisfied with NHS dental services

LONDON – The improved access to NHS dental care appears to be reflected in British people’s opinion about dental services. While public ...

BDA seeks witnesses to challenge NHS on patient charge revenue deductions

LONDON, UK: According to the British Dental Association (BDA), deductions on patient charge revenue have become a major issue for GDP when dealing with the ...

Government the only one to profit from higher NHS charges, BDA claims

LONDON, UK: The government is expected to gain tens of millions of pounds from dental practices owing to recent increases in charges, the British Dental ...

Dental patient charges increase by 5% in UK, causing uproar

LONDON, UK: Though practices in the UK remain open as the country goes through its second lockdown of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, dentists appear to be facing ...

Education

Live webinar
Wed. 24 April 2024
1:00 pm UTC (London)