British Dental Association's Reaction To Which? Survey On Patient Access

Reacting to today's publication of a Which? Survey that found almost 80 per cent of patients sampled did not think the government would be able to improve NHS dentistry over the next twelve months, Lester Ellman, Chair of the BDA's General Dental Practice Committee, said:


"These findings will come as no surprise to dentists who are deeply concerned about the impact these changes will have on their patients. The BDA has warned the Government that its plans are flawed and the way they are being introduced is creating confusion and uncertainty.


"We don't believe the new contract will achieve the Government's aims of securing patient access, improving oral health or raising the quality of patient care."


The Which? survey is published just days after a BDA survey of Local Dental Committees also found confusion about the forthcoming changes to NHS dentistry.


-- The BDA's survey of Local Dental Committees found that 90 per cent of LDCs that responded said that dentists in their area were experiencing difficulties over the details of the contracts which they must sign by 31 March if they want to continue providing NHS dentistry.


-- The British Dental Association (BDA) is the professional association for dentists in the UK. It represents over 20,000 dentists working in general practice, in community and hospital settings, in academia and research, and in the armed forces.


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