‘We’re not all in this together’

More than 40,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Chancellor and Health Secretary to drop the planned hike in dental charges and put in place sustainable funding for NHS dentistry services.

In Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent Spring Statement, the Government set out plans to increase charges for NHS dentistry from this month.

But the British Dental Association (BDA) is warning that, as a result, patient charges will be almost two thirds higher than they were in 2010.

We’ve looked at the numbers and had past governments actually increased state spending by the same rates they hiked charges, England would by now have the basis for genuinely-universal access to NHS dental care

And they claimed the increased levy did not make it back into dentistry budgets.

“We’ve looked at the numbers and had past governments actually increased state spending by the same rates they hiked charges, England would by now have the basis for genuinely-universal access to NHS dental care”, said a BDA statement.

“Budgets have been static since the Coalition Government came to power.

“Had Government contributions increased at the same margin, the total budget would now be close to £4.5bn, a level that could address the recruitment and retention crises in NHS dentistry and provide a basis for eliminating unmet need for care.

The Treasury has presided over a long-term strategy of stealth cuts, by using hikes in charges to conceal reductions in state spending.

The Government’s pledge of 700,000 urgent appointments is being paid for by recycling underspends in the existing budget, which are fuelled by ongoing recruitment and retention challenges

This is why a Band 3 treatment like dentures or a crown will cost £326.70 from April, or over £128.70 more than they did in 2010.”

The BDA also claims that, while GPs are getting support, there has been no progress to protect NHS dental practices from increases in the National Minimum Wage and National Insurance, or to meaningfully expand access to care.

“The Government’s pledge of 700,000 urgent appointments is being paid for by recycling underspends in the existing budget, which are fuelled by ongoing recruitment and retention challenges,” the BDA says.

“A generation of austerity means a typical practice now loses over £40 delivering a set of NHS dentures.

“Labour has pledged reform of the failed contract fuelling this crisis, but meaningful reform must go hand in hand with sustainable investment.”

General Dental Practice Committee chairman, Shiv Pabary, adds:
“Chancellors may claim ‘we are all in this together’, but this is the reality for NHS dentistry.

“If this service is going to have a future, Rachel Reeves needs to put down George Osborne’s playbook.”