10 December 2004
The government's plans to breathe new life into NHS dentistry suffered a blow this week as dentists' leaders suspended negotiations on a new contract.
From next October, the Department of Health wants to recruit 1,000 dentists and improve the quality of health service dentistry. The new contract is central to this and, following new deals for other clinical staff, represents the last major reform of NHS employment contracts.
The British Dental Association said the talks had reached stalemate and it had reluctantly withdrawn. The department's proposals would not lead to higher quality work, it claimed.
Lead negotiator Lester Ellman said: 'We have been proactive in our discussions with the department but the traffic has been almost entirely one way. To continue would be to devalue NHS dentistry and to let down the dentists we represent.'
The department said it regretted the BDA's action but insisted its proposed contract would attract dentists back to the NHS.
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