Irish dentists concerned about new scheme
Dentists in Northern Ireland have raised concerns over a new scheme, which will come into place on the 1st April.
The new scheme will require all dentists to register with the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA); compulsory registration is a result of a change in legislation, which requires all establishments offering private dental services to register with the watchdog. The new registration criteria will affect around 99 percent of NHS dental practices.
As part of the new programme, one person from the practice must provide documentation, including a birth certificate, passport photographs and a doctor’s note to confirm that they are both mentally and physically fit to practice; dentists must also undergo a CRB check.
The aim of the scheme is to ensure that the public feel safe and have confirmation that the professional treating them are fit to do so. Private dental treatment is currently largely unregulated and health chiefs are eager to change this; the new scheme will increase regulation and help to protect members of the public.
Dentists are concerned about the amount of red-tape involved in the registration process and feel that they are already sufficiently regulated; NHS dentists undergo regular audits and inspections and they are required to undertake continuous training and development. Dentists are also angry because they are expected to cover the cost of registration, which involves a one-off fee of £950 and an annual fee of £50 per practice. One dentist said that the new scheme did not make any sense because it involved a lot of fuss and dentists were effectively paying for the right to work.
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