Dentists Respond to OFT Accusations
The British Dental Association has hit back at accusations from the Office of Fair Trading following an investigation, which concluded that dentists are misleading patients over the cost of dental treatment and entitlement to NHS care.
The report called for “major changes” to the current dental contract and also suggested clearer pricing and a simpler system for seeing dental hygienists.
In response to the report the British Dental Association claimed that most people are happy with their dentist and said that a price list would lead to confusion. The NHS price system, which features three fee bands, is supposed to be clear, but a survey conducted by Which? magazine revealed that 39 percent of people did not see any leaflets or posters associated with NHS fees.
The British Dental Association criticised the current dental contract, which was introduced by the Labour government in 2006, a long time ago and members have called for a new contract. Pilot projects are currently underway across the UK and the findings of the studies will be used to shape the new contract. The BDA has also acknowledged that changes must be made to the complaints process and promised to investigate payment plans, which some patients feel they are being forced into buying as a result of ‘hard-sell’ tactics.
Susie Sanderson, chair of the BDA’s executive committee, said that the OFT was guilty of adopting a sensationalist approach in order to grab people’s attention.
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