Figures released show dentists earn more than £300,000
A new report from the NHS Information Centre has revealed that the number of dentists in Wales and England that earn over £300,000 a year has risen to at least 410. This is an eight percent rise from the reported 380 who acquired the same figures in 2007/08.
The report in 2008/09 revealed that the average pay for a dentist on the NHS had reached up to £131,000 a year, up from £126,800. A sum of around one hundred and fifty dentists earned between £270,000 and £300,000, whilst a grand total of 5,540 dentists earned over £100,000 a year. This is all despite the spending cutbacks made in the NHS.
Health Ministers have responded to the new figures by suggesting that pay freezes could be forced upon dentists; a move that has already been brought into action to staff in other NHS departments that earn over £21,000 annually. A Department of Health spokesman was quoted as saying; ‘The coalition Government is currently considering how best to apply this pay freeze to groups such as GPs and dentists whose NHS income covers both their personal pay and practice expenses.’
The NHS Information Centre report also revealed that those, working under contract with a health trust, earning the largest wages were also those who worked the longest hours. A total of 1,005 dentists in Wales and England are reported to be receiving over £150,000 for working a forty-five hour week.
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WRONG!!! The figures are for total practice turnover. It includes all expenses, staff pay, technicians pay, materials, rent etc.
Average before tax earnings for a dentist are £45-80,000 pa. Hardly a great deal considering the skill level, responsibility, training and workload!
Good headline though, but I would prefer good journalism. Looks like I might need to look elsewhere for that