United in failure
Dental leaders from Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland have warned governments across the UK that continued failure to invest in oral health is unsustainable, as new data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre shows a sustained squeeze in professional incomes.
The Dental Earnings and Expenses, 2013/14 report underlines the scale of the challenge facing NHS dental practitioners across the UK, with incomes falling by at least a fifth in all nations and at all levels since 2008.
Data shows incomes for practice owners in England and Wales have fallen by 21 per cent in real terms since 2008 – from £145,800 to £115,200 - with associates experiencing a 19.6 per cent drop, from £75,400 to £60,600.
Associates in Northern Ireland and Scotland saw their earnings decrease by over 27 per cent in the same period.
Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen, Chair of the BDA’s General Dental Practice Committee (GDPC):
“Dentists keep being asked to do more with less. Since the financial crash both practice owners and associates have had to stomach around a 20 per cent drop in their real incomes, and these cuts have consequences. Patients inevitably suffer when our profession is left incapable of investing in new equipment, and facing down a bourgeoning crisis of morale.
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