| It may not be a surprise to many people who | | | | when the reform was brought in, which was a |
| use NHS dentistry on a regular basis, but a recent | | | | move predicted by many unions at the time. |
| study has revealed that NHS dentistry has | | | | Some went into retirement and others chose to |
| actually gotten worse since a reform was | | | | move toward exclusively private work. However, |
| introduced by the government less than half a | | | | one of the main reasons for the reform was the |
| decade ago. As the relationship between NHS | | | | lack of NHS dentists. In certain areas of England it |
| dentistry and the public becomes increasingly | | | | was virtually impossible for people living there to |
| fractured ,more and more patients are beginning | | | | even access an NHS dentist. On top of this, many |
| to opt for private dentistry than ever before. | | | | dentists signed the 2006 contract "in dispute". This |
| In 2006 the government issued a new dental | | | | meant that months were spent in discussion of |
| contract in order to improve the standards of | | | | the terms and conditions between managers and |
| NHS dentistry, which was, by the accounts of | | | | the dentistry profession, further complicating and |
| dentists and patients alike, badly in need of | | | | delaying the reform. |
| reform. Now, just three years after that reform, | | | | These problems were, of course, just the tip of |
| an independent review (that was commissioned | | | | the iceberg, and the political opposition parties |
| by the government) has reported that the | | | | have been extremely vocal in their criticism of |
| previous reform has done what many in England | | | | the reforms. One spokesperson for the Liberal |
| thought impossible: it has caused standards of | | | | Democrats went as far as to call NHS dentistry a |
| NHS dentistry to fall even lower. | | | | "national disgrace." |
| One of the most intriguing things that has been | | | | Put simply, the changes made to NHS dentistry |
| brought to light by the independent review is that | | | | have been received very badly because they |
| over one million fewer patients visited an NHS | | | | have not worked out and now the NHS contract |
| dentist in the two years after the contract was | | | | is being totally reworked once again. It is hoped |
| brought in than had visited an NHS dentist in the | | | | that the new contract will make it easier for |
| two years prior to this. As a result of this, it looks | | | | patients to access information regarding dentists |
| like NHS dentistry is in line for yet another reform. | | | | in their area, particularly ones who have NHS slots |
| Andy Burnham, the Health Secretary, is one of | | | | free. This will be done by setting up helplines for |
| the only people who has not acknowledged the | | | | patients to call. It is also suggested that they will |
| reform as a total failure. However, most | | | | be able to call NHS Direct to get the information. |
| commentators on the subject are long past | | | | The payment fee system is also due for a |
| acknowledging that and a question being put | | | | reworking. |
| forward regularly by commentators is that of | | | | Ultimately, private dentists have already benefited |
| why the 2006 reform was not successful. | | | | greatly from the poor image NHS dentistry has |
| An obvious reason for the failure of the 2006 | | | | brought upon itself over the past decade, which is |
| reform lies in the story behind one particular | | | | an image that the public will take some time to |
| statistic. NHS figures show that around one | | | | forget. A reform that actually works would |
| thousand dentists chose to stop doing NHS work | | | | certainly be a step in the right direction. |