Ipswich NHS Dentistry in crisis

9.00.00am GMT Wed 24th Jan 2007

Cllr Andrew Cann has investigated local NHS Dentistry

Today Liberal Democrats release details of a survey which investigated the effects of the new NHS Dental Contract1 in Ipswich. The new contracts, which began in April 2006, brought in a new charging system and at the time raised concerns from Dentists regarding the rushed nature of the implementation and the effects the new charging system would have.

Some key findings from the research:

1. The new Dental contract discourages Dentists from taking on NHS patients.

2. There are thousands, if not tens of thousands, of people in Ipswich without dental cover.

3. Almost all dentists are not taking on new NHS patients.

4. All (100%) of dentists believe the changes were done for budgetary reasons and not for the good of healthcare.

5. The Dentists have been told that the PCT are holding back money and there will be LESS money next year for NHS work.

6. None of the dentists believe they were adequately consulted on the changes.

Speaking about the report Cllr Andrew Cann said, "When we first investigated this issue last October our research gave us suspicions that the situation in NHS Dentistry was getting bad, sadly, this survey confirms our worst fears. The new contract, which the Government rushed through last April, is having a devastating impact on NHS dental care in Ipswich and, I suspect, Suffolk as a whole.

Speaking to Dentists we have found that most of them still want to treat NHS patients, but this contract makes it financially difficult for them to do so. I cannot help but agree with those who have suggested that the new NHS contracts have little to do with the healthcare of the public, and everything to do with saving money.

It is imperative that the New Dental Contract be reviewed and any future contract properly funded in order to bring back the incentive and funding for dentists to do what they do best - care for NHS patients."

Notes

1. On 1st April 2006 a new contract was introduced for NHS dentists in England. The commissioning of dentistry was handed over to the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). Under the previous system dentists were paid for each item of service they completed (for example, fillings, extractions etc.). Under the new system dentists are paid in 'units' for each 'course of treatment'. A 'unit' has a monetary value (which varies from dentist to dentist).

There are three types of course, which attract one, three and twelve units respectively. Band 1 (at a proposed rate of £15.50) would apply to diagnosis and maintenance such as check ups and x rays, Band 2 (£42.40) would apply to simple treatments such as extractions and fillings, and Band 3 (£189) to complex treatments and the provision of appliances such as crowns and dentures. In addition urgent treatment would be charged at the Band 1 rate.

Scotland has retained the system of fee per item, with added incentives in the form of grant-in-aid, and Wales has a slightly lower charge rate.

2. Liberal Democrats in Ipswich conducted a door-to-door 'Residents Survey' in October 2006. The survey was conducted in the Norwich Road area of Ipswich. Two of the questions in the survey related to Dental provision.

One third of respondents indicated that they did not have a dentist and of those 95% said they could not find an NHS Dentist in the area. Further investigation and anecdotal evidence suggested that this situation was not unique to this area and had deteriorated in 2006.

Ipswich Liberal Democrats decided to conduct a survey of Dentists in order to determine the condition of dental healthcare provision in Ipswich since the introduction of the New Dental Contract in April 2006. Survey work was conducted via post and face-to-face in December 2006 and January 2007.