BDA warns dentists could retire over new NHS activity targets
The British Dental Association has issued a stark warning, as activity targets for NHS dentists increase.
The BDA suggests that up to 40% of dentists could retire or leave the profession if existing pressures continue to rise. The survey findings have been published as practices face new targets to tackle backlogs. NHS practices will now be expected to work up to 85% of pre-pandemic capacity in a bid to allow more patients to see their dentist.
According to the BDA, up to two-thirds of NHS dental practices feel that they will struggle to hit the new targets.
Representatives have stated that dentists are already finding it difficult to work to targets and this challenge will become even more difficult now that capacities have increased. Many teams are dealing with staff shortages caused by the pandemic on top of long-standing recruitment issues, which mean that vacancies are almost impossible to fill.
A poll conducted by the BDA indicates that 40% of dentists are currently thinking about taking early retirement or changing careers. Over 50% of dentists are likely to reduce NHS work and 10% feel that there is a risk their practice could close in the next year.
Chair of the BDA’s General Dental Practice Committee, Shawn Charlwood, said that the country is now facing a “tidal wave of infection” which is making dentists nervous and causing patients to cancel appointments. He added that new targets may “suit the Treasury” but they put patients, dental professionals and the future of NHS dentistry at risk.
Restrictions have eased in recent weeks, but the outbreak of the Omicron variant has caused many practices to delay further changes. According to the BDA, a third of practices are not currently thinking about taking any more steps to relax restrictions.
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