Capita fiasco

NHS dentists have had to wait – in some cases for up to a year – to get the national performer number required to provide NHS services. Administration of the National Performers List used to be managed by NHS England, but was contracted out to Capita alongside other primary care support services in September 2015. Before Capita won the contract the average application turnaround time was approximately six weeks.

The BDA is now aware of NHS practices that are risking closure as a direct result of this failure, and colleagues unable to meet mortgage repayments.

The BDA has been raising concerns with MPs and has thrown its weight behind Labour’s Steve McCabe, who has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) calling for the Government to hold Capita to account. It is now asking dentists across the UK to get their MP to join the call. 

Over 550 trainee dentists were expected to stop work on December 1, 2016, as a result of the backlog, until the BDA managed to secure an extension to the applications process. Hundreds of other NHS dentists are still affected.