Dentists Admit to Lower Business Confidence
A survey carried out by Lloyds TSB has revealed that dentists have suffered from decreased confidence amid proposals for a new NHS dental contract and the continued uncertain economic climate.
The Lloyds TSB Commercial Healthcare Confidence Index, which is released twice a year, shows that dentists have suffered the biggest decrease in business confidence, yet they remain the most optimistic of the three main primary care providers, with GPs once again being the less confident, followed by pharmacists.
The findings of the study are compiled by the answers to a series of questions concerned with business confidence and the outlook for the future of healthcare businesses.
The survey revealed that only 29 percent of dentists think they will still be working for the NHS in ten year’s time, while more than 30 percent of private dentists said they may start taking on NHS patients after requests from patients. More than half of those surveyed admitted that they were sceptical about funding for the new contract and felt that it would be under-funded.
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