The UK government has announced a bonus of £20,000 for dentists who set up their practices in areas that have limited access to NHS care. In addition, higher payments will be offered to dentists who accept new patients and perform teeth-cleaning in schools. The move is aimed at expanding levels of dental care across the country. However, the plans have been criticised for not going far enough by the British Dentistry Association and the Labour party.
The British Dentistry Association has described the plans as “rearranging the deckchairs”. The bonus, known as a “golden hello”, is intended to entice dentists to work in so-called dental deserts where access to NHS care is the most limited. However, the top-up payments will be essential in improving access to dental care overall. An additional £15 will be paid to dentists for seeing patients who have not visited a dentist in two years, while an additional cash incentive of up to £50 will be offered if the patient requires more complex work.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins has stated that she understands the frustration of being unable to access an NHS dentist. The government hopes that its incentives will result in an additional 1.5 million treatments being given over the next 12 months. The payment will be available to around 1% of the workforce comprising up to 240 dentists, with an additional investment of £200m set to support the proposal.
Despite these moves, spending on dentistry has reportedly dropped by £1bn since 2010, according to the BDA. Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has stated that the proposals are only temporary measures intended to buy time until after the election. The party has said that it intends to offer incentives for new dentists to work in areas with the greatest need and to implement supervised teeth-brushing for three-to-five-year-olds.
The government’s proposals also include sending dental teams to schools and nurseries to offer fluoride varnish treatments and supported teeth-brushing. Mobile dental services will be provided in rural and coastal areas, while water fluoridation will be expanded to new regions to prevent tooth decay
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