This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Increase in practice allowance for NHS dentists
17/11/2005
Dentists in Scotland who are committed to providing NHS dental services are to receive a further doubling of the general dental practice allowance, it was announced today.
Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
"I am delighted to be able to give committed NHS dentists this further financial boost.
"At present the general dental practice allowance is set at 6 percent of total NHS earnings - today I am pleased to be able to double this to a massive 12 percent for dentists who meet the NHS commitment criteria.
"This means a dental practice committed to providing NHS dental services for all categories of patient, which would previously have received an average of £13,000 from the practice allowance, will now receive an average of £26,000.
"This is a very substantial increase and one I am sure will be gladly received by those dentists who have remained committed to the NHS and to their patients.
"I am also pleased to announce today that an interim payment for the rent reimbursement scheme will be paid to NHS dentists in December -more than #4m is expected to be paid out. Valuations are currently being carried out across the country and final payments will be backdated to April 2005."
NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS
The General Dental Practice Allowance for all dentists was increased from 3percent to 6 percent as of 1 April 2005. The increased allowance will be received by dentists who meet the NHS commitment criteria from 1 October 2005.
The DPA is used to help a practice address the increasing practice requirements in relation to the provision of high quality premises, health and safety, staffing support and information collection and provision.
NHS commitment definition:
- A practice will need to have at least 500 registered NHS patients per dentist.
- Of these 500 patients at least 100 will need to be fee paying adults.
- Practices which earn an average of #50,000 or above per dentist will receive 100 percent of the new allowances.
- Practices will be required to maintain or increase the existing NHS patient profile of their practice, otherwise clawback may be effected.
- Mechanisms will be put in place to consider representation from practices that consider they have justifiable reasons for not meeting the full criteria and also to recognise the contribution of specialist practices e.g. orthodontic practices.
Under our plans, dentists will still be able to treat both NHS and private patients. Those who choose to treat only children and exempt adults will still be entitled to receive: a capitation fee for each child they have registered; payment for each treatment carried out; the current practice allowance which was doubled in March 2005 to 6 percent of total NHS earnings.
We announced a massive funding package earlier this year - an extra £295 million over three years - no other Government in history has invested so much in Scotland's dental care. This will build up over three years, from £200 million in 2004/05 to £350 million by 2007/08.