The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that dentists and doctors will receive a 3.5% pay rise.
The British Dental Association (BDA) has responded to its claim that a 3.5% rise is ‘affordable’ next year.
The BDA and the British Medical Association (BMA) recently called for sweeping reform of the pay review process.
The pair argued that ministers have routinely interfered in the Review Body for Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) processes. This includes introducing public sector pay freezes and pay caps.
The Department for Health and Social Care said: ‘Through the current financial settlement provided by HM Treasury to the department and reprioritisation decisions, funding is available for pay awards up to 3.5%.’
They added that anything above this ‘would require trade-offs for public service delivery’. It added that it may also require ‘further government borrowing at a time when headroom against fiscal rules is historically low and sustainable public finances are vital in the fight against inflation’.
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‘Haemorrhaging talent’
The Health and Social Care committee is currently holding an inquiry into NHS dentistry.
With continuing access troubles, a BBC investigation also showed that nine in 10 practices are unable to take on new adult NHS patients.
The British Dental Association’s chair Eddie Crouch said: ‘This service is haemorrhaging talent by the day. With inflation soaring, a miserly 3.5% pay rise will clearly take its toll.
‘The government’s blind pursuit of affordability risks undermining the pay review process. But also the very sustainability of NHS dentistry in this country.’
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