NHS Dentists - Contacts talks suspended (Birmingham Liberal Democrats)

Birmingham Liberal Democrats <info@birminghamlibdems.org.uk>

NHS Dentists - Contacts talks suspended

December 9, 2004 12:52 PM

In a new setback for government plans to reform the dental service, Dentists have suspended talks on new NHS contracts. Huge changes are earmarked for next October when the system of piecework payments should be replaced by salaried arrangements with local primary trusts.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Paul Burstow said "The longer the contract negotiation drags on, the more the nation's teeth will suffer. This Government's failure over the last seven years to tackle the shortage of dentists and stop the exodus from the NHS has left half the population unable to register with a NHS dentist. It is vital that the new contract delivers a service that concentrates on prevention and ends the fill and drill culture of the old contract."