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| Dental care changes report due | Dental care changes report due |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The findings of a review into how dental services in England should change are to be published later. | The findings of a review into how dental services in England should change are to be published later. |
| The independent review, ordered by ministers, will consider the continuing problems in access to NHS dentists. | The independent review, ordered by ministers, will consider the continuing problems in access to NHS dentists. |
| It will also look at how dentists are funded, and how to ensure high-quality NHS dental care. | It will also look at how dentists are funded, and how to ensure high-quality NHS dental care. |
| A spokeswoman for the British Dental Association said it was "vital" to address the problems which existed for doctors and patients. | A spokeswoman for the British Dental Association said it was "vital" to address the problems which existed for doctors and patients. |
| Complex treatments concern | Complex treatments concern |
| A new dental contract for dentists was introduced in April 2006 in an attempt to widen access for NHS patients. | A new dental contract for dentists was introduced in April 2006 in an attempt to widen access for NHS patients. |
| It aimed to reform the so-called "drill and fill" culture by effectively paying dentists the same amount to see slightly fewer patients. | |
| In theory this allowed them to spend more time with their patients so they could also give them advice about oral health, rather than trying to maximise throughput to maximise their income. | |
| But it has proved highly unpopular with the profession - and with the public. | But it has proved highly unpopular with the profession - and with the public. |
| We shall make the recommendations we feel we need to make, and will do so in the spirit of trying to move forward to a better service Professor Jimmy Steele, review author | We shall make the recommendations we feel we need to make, and will do so in the spirit of trying to move forward to a better service Professor Jimmy Steele, review author |
| Figures show 1.2 million fewer patients visited a dentist in England in the two years to June last year than in the period before the reforms were introduced. | Figures show 1.2 million fewer patients visited a dentist in England in the two years to June last year than in the period before the reforms were introduced. |
| Under the contract, patients paid fixed charges for particular types of procedure and local primary care trusts were given the power to commission and pay for dental services. | Under the contract, patients paid fixed charges for particular types of procedure and local primary care trusts were given the power to commission and pay for dental services. |
| There has also been criticism that because dentists now receive a flat salary, they no longer have any financial incentive to carry out difficult work such as crowns and bridges. | There has also been criticism that because dentists now receive a flat salary, they no longer have any financial incentive to carry out difficult work such as crowns and bridges. |
| In the first year of the contract, the number of complex treatments - including bridges and crowns - which involve laboratory work was halved, and the number of root canal treatments fell by 45%. | In the first year of the contract, the number of complex treatments - including bridges and crowns - which involve laboratory work was halved, and the number of root canal treatments fell by 45%. |
| In Scotland and Northern Ireland, not covered by the changes, the number of complex treatments rose. | In Scotland and Northern Ireland, not covered by the changes, the number of complex treatments rose. |
| The contract also covers Wales, although the review only deals with services in England. | The contract also covers Wales, although the review only deals with services in England. |
| 'Notable difficulties' | 'Notable difficulties' |
| It has been led by Professor Jimmy Steele of Newcastle's School of Dental Sciences. | It has been led by Professor Jimmy Steele of Newcastle's School of Dental Sciences. |
| In a blog on the Department of Health website, which he wrote while the review was being carried out, he said: "This is an independent review and I am an independent chair. | In a blog on the Department of Health website, which he wrote while the review was being carried out, he said: "This is an independent review and I am an independent chair. |
| "We (the team and I) shall make the recommendations we feel we need to make, and will do so in the spirit of trying to move forward to a better service and not looking backwards to apportion blame or responsibility for any previous decisions." | "We (the team and I) shall make the recommendations we feel we need to make, and will do so in the spirit of trying to move forward to a better service and not looking backwards to apportion blame or responsibility for any previous decisions." |
| Susie Sanderson, chair of the British Dental Association's executive board, said: "The 2006 reforms caused significant problems for patients and dentists; notably difficulties in accessing dental care and a system that does not encourage the provision of preventive care. | Susie Sanderson, chair of the British Dental Association's executive board, said: "The 2006 reforms caused significant problems for patients and dentists; notably difficulties in accessing dental care and a system that does not encourage the provision of preventive care. |
| "This is an opportunity to address those problems and it is vital that it is taken." | "This is an opportunity to address those problems and it is vital that it is taken." |
| But she said Professor Steele's review had been "notable for its openness". | But she said Professor Steele's review had been "notable for its openness". |
| Ms Sanderson said the BDA looked forward to a "constructive dialogue" with the Department of Health about its recommendations. | Ms Sanderson said the BDA looked forward to a "constructive dialogue" with the Department of Health about its recommendations. |