Since the beginning of the pandemic, the BDA has repeatedly argued for the dental sector’s essential worker status to be confirmed. The BDA reported last week that the CDO for England had confirmed that NHS dental teams did indeed qualify for essential worker status. The following are the words used in the update from Sara Hurley on November 2:
“The government defines essential workers as all NHS and social care staff. The chief dental officer has received confirmation from the Department of Health and Social Care that this includes the dental workforce actively engaged in supporting the NHS and maintaining dental care provision as part of the UK’s health and social care sectors.”
Following that update, the BDA has received a number of queries about the interpretation of those words and in particular whether it covers wholly private dental practices.
The BDA view is that private dentistry certainly should be afforded the same status as NHS dentistry. However, given the uncertainty around the issue, the association has asked the office of the chief dental officer to confirm the position of private practices.
BDA calls for clarification on essential worker status for private practices
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the BDA has repeatedly argued for the dental sector’s essential worker status to be confirmed. The BDA reported last week that the CDO for England had confirmed that NHS dental teams did indeed qualify for essential worker status.