A survey of 279 high-street dentists in Northern Ireland revealed:
- Seventy-five per cent of dentists in Northern Ireland (NI) have reduced their NHS commitment since lockdown – by an average of a quarter.
- Eighty-eight per cent now say they intend to reduce – or further reduce – that commitment in the year ahead.
- Forty-nine per cent say they are likely to go fully private.
The dentists were also asked questions about new registrations. The data shows:
- Only 20 per cent of dentists report their practices as taking on new HS registrations.
- Only 39 per cent of practices say they are operating at full capacity.
- Almost two-thirds (65 per cent) cite higher needs patients requiring more clinical time as a factor constraining their practice from operating at pre-covid capacity, reflecting the impact of the ongoing backlog.
Regarding rising costs, the results show:
- Ninety-seven per cent say costs to provide HS care have increased.
- Less than one in 10 (eight per cent) believe the Department of Health has acted to adequately mitigate these costs.
- Ninety-seven per cent say increased costs are putting HS dentistry at their practices at risk.
- Ninety-four per cent say expenses are a factor in determining how much HS dentistry they can provide.
Without the Stormont Brake being applied, a ban on dental amalgam is expected from January 1, 2025.
The respondents were asked how they felt about the ban. The results showed:
- Without mitigations being put in place by the Department of Health, 92 per cent say it will reduce the amount of HS activity at their practice.
- Ninety-two per cent say this will increase costs for HS activity at their practice.
- Ninety-one per cent say this will impact on higher needs patients seen at their practice.
- Eighty-eight per cent say this will lead their practice to reduce or end its HS commitment.
In November 2023, Scotland rolled out changes to the contractual framework, which aimed to better reflect the costs of care. Eighty-six per cent of the dentists said that they think Northern Ireland should adopt similar changes.
The professional body stresses that no health professional should be expected to deliver NHS care at a loss.
Ciara Gallagher, chair of the British Dental Association's Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee, said, “NHS dentistry in Northern Ireland is on its knees, and the amalgam ban could be the final blow.
“Dentists have told us they are working in what feels like the final days of this service. Delivering health service care at a loss and developing private work simply to break even.
“None of this is inevitable. A restored Stormont has the power to ensure NHS dentistry can once again stand on its own two feet.
“If it doesn’t, this service will die.”