Christopher Fraser, MP for South West Norfolk, has called on the Government to recognise that many dentists in his constituency feel let down by the new Dental Contract implemented last year.
In order to receive funding, Dentists are required to meet Government-set targets in the form of Units of Dental Activity (UDA). The Secretary of the Norfolk Local Dental Committee has told Christopher Fraser that this has lead to many Dentists feeling as if they are on a constant “treadmill”, without the time they would like to spend with their patients to provide appropriate preventative care. Speaking afterwards, Christopher Fraser said:
“I have been briefed in considerable detail on this issue by the Norfolk Local Dental Committee. I am delighted that the Minister has offered to look into the concerns of local Dentists in South West Norfolk. Many Dentists in my constituency are losing faith with the Dental Contract because it is dictated by Government targets. As a result, more and more Dentists feel they are not spending an appropriate amount of time with their patients. Some practices in my region have even decided to go private so that they can dedicate more time to each patient. My worry is that this will turn into a pattern across Norfolk and in the end, patients who are unable to afford private dental care will suffer.
The Norfolk Local Dental Committee has also expressed its concern to me about the banding system of dental treatment which could encourage time-pressed Dentists to see patients who are relatively dentally-fit rather than those requiring significant work. I intend to take up all of these issues with the Minister and I look to the Government to provide Dentists in my constituency with an assurance that their concerns will be examined thoroughly.” |