Dental patients assured NHS cover will be provided

A national contract for general dental practitioners is being implemented from April 1. It aims to give dentists more time with their patients and the security of a guaranteed NHS income so they can plan ahead.

But some dentists are not happy with the way it has been negotiated by the Department of Health and are looking to move towards providing dental services privately.

At least one practitioner in Hambleton and Richmondshire has already threatened to stop offering NHS cover from April.

The unnamed practice has said the only NHS treatment it will provide will be for patients under 18.

Other practices are considering their position, but Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) is confident it can provide a service for patients wanting NHS cover.

In the short-term, the trust intends to set up an interim service for patients affected by any change. In the medium-term, the PCT will negotiate with alternative providers such as independent bodies and its own salaried dentists to re-provide any lost capacity.

Maddy Ruff, the trust's director of primary care, said: "It is disappointing that one of our practices has decided not to continue to provide NHS services after April, but of course we respect their decision as an independent contractor.

"We have extremely good relationships with all our dental practices, and are talking to them about how we can support them under the new contract.

"We believe most of them will continue to provide all or some NHS services under the new contract. However, we can assure members of the public that we have plans to ensure continuity of NHS services as locally as possible should some dentists decide to reduce their NHS commitment."

The trust has encouraged dentists to wait and see what is offered under the contract before acting.

Dentists have until the end of next month to say if they will provide NHS cover from April.