Review Body makes its recommendations
The Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration published their 38th Report in late March 2009. The BDA in its submission of evidence asked the Review Body to recommend a 5.3 per cent uplift to net pay for all NHS dentists.
As a consequence of the Review Body believing that laboratory work has fallen by around a third in England and Wales since the introduction of the new NHS contract they have recommended an uplift of 0.21 per cent be applied to the gross earnings base under the new contract for 2009-10 for general dental practitioners in England and Wales – this is intended to increase general dental practitioners’ net income by 1.5 per cent.
The 0.21 per cent recommendation has also been applied to gross fees, commitment payments and sessional fees in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The award mirrors that given to practitioners in England and Wales but, unlike England and Wales, there has been no new NHS contract nor is there any evidence of reductions in laboratory work, and we do not believe that a 0.21 per cent uplift will lead to a 1.5 per cent increase in net income.
All dental grades in the salaried primary dental care service have also been recommended an increase of 1.5 per cent.
The Review Body, looking forward to next year’s round, has asked for evidence on changes to VDP trainers’ workload, joint work on dentists’ motivation and morale, joint work on dental expenses (focusing on the non-staffing element) and views on how the Review Body should take centrally-funded allowances into account when making their recommendations for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The BDA has already begun work on its 2010-11 submission which is due in Autumn 2009. To view the BDA’s latest evidence to the Review Body or to view the 2009 Review Body report please visit the BDA website.
