BDA: dentists mustn't pay price for latest NHS IT failure

Many users are now reporting errors on the new ‘Compass’ system, which was rolled out by the Business Services Authority (BSA) to offer “more flexibility and functionality for both dentists and commissioners”. Many practices are now reporting login problems, error messages, and issues with adding dentists to contracts. There are also understood to be issues with software systems.

The BDA had expressed grave concerns about bringing in a new system so close to the end of the financial year, but had received repeated assurances from the BSA that these concerns were misplaced.

The BDA has now written to the BSA setting out steps it must take to ensure these problems are resolved responsibly.

Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen, chair of the General Dental Practice Committee said:

“When the BSA unveiled its plans to launch a new contract management system so close to the end of the financial year we urged caution. Nothing in the chequered history of NHS IT projects gave us any reason to think the launch of Compass would be plain sailing. Now many colleagues are sitting at their computers pulling their hair out, with no way of telling what their exact performance is.