News


CONSULTATION INTO NEW NI CONTRACTS


The British Dental


Association (BDA) in Northern Ireland has welcomed


the launch of a consultation into piloting new dental contract arrangements. The Health and Social Care Board’s (HSCB) consultation runs until 31 January and it is expected to lead to the piloting of general dental services, orthodontic and oral surgery pilots next year with new contracts being developed for 2013 pending successful evaluation. Peter Crooks, Chair of the BDA Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee, said: “The BDA has long argued that we need new arrangements for dental care in Northern Ireland. “Practices need a sustainable future as businesses with a working environment for dentists and their teams which deliver the modern, preven- tive care our patients seek. “The HSCB’s consultation signals, I hope, progress towards that goal. Continued engagement with BDA Northern Ireland is the key to success. The Government needs to listen to the views of the profession and work with the BDA to ensure the future success of pilots.”


GDC seeks registrants views


Dental professionals in Northern Ireland will get the chance to tell the General Dental Council (GDC) what they think of the regulator at a series of events throughout 2011.


The GDC is holding the events 6 Ireland’s Dental magazine


Budget reveals scale of health cuts


The restrictions imposed on the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) will remain unchanged this year following the Government’s December budget. Finance Minister Brian Lenihan announced that the overall health budget for 2011 will be €14.1 billion, a reduction of €727 million on last year. Of that reduction about €380m is expected to be found through savings on demand led schemes such as the DTSS. Health Minister Mary Harney, speaking after the announcement, said: “The health service must, of necessity, contribute to the expendi- ture reductions required in 2011. My objective has been to ensure that these reductions are achieved in a way that minimise the impact on services to patients and continue to protect the most vulnerable. To do this we need to reduce costs and improve productivity.” The minister had previously


indicated that the redeployment of services would be crucial during 2011 and beyond if services to the public are to be maintained. However, the government has again come under attack for its handling of the cuts, with unions leading the criticism. The Services, Industrial,


Professional and Technical Union’s acting national health organiser Paul Bell said: “Past experience shows that the axe wielded by the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney, and the HSE is too blunt to ensure savings are not at the expense of services being delivered directly to the public.”


to enable registrants to see and hear first hand how the GDC is progressing, to give feedback on how it can improve and to take part in workshops.


The first workshop will take place on 12 January at the Hilton Templepatrick Hotel and Country Club in Belfast and, as well as meeting GDC staff face to face, dental professionals will get the chance to comment on


Finance Minister Brian Lenihan


The Irish Nurses and Midwives


“The health service must, of necessity, contribute to the reductions required in 2011”


Mary Harney, Health Minister


Organisation have again called for a crisis summit on health services and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has reiterated its call for the time period to reduce the deficit to be extended. Dave Begg, general secretary of the


ICTU, told RTÉ News that reducing the deficit to 3 per cent by 2014 cannot be achieved without causing “permanent damage to the fabric of society”. He continued: “We simply can’t


manage to do this over a four-year period. Fiscal retrenchment on its own can’t be achieved purely through austerity. You need to have some growth in the system. “We have to get the fiscal situation


in order but we need to do it over a period of time which doesn’t prevent growth from taking hold and giving us a boost.”


the standards guidance, revali- dation and any other questions they want to put to the council. Chief Dental Officer for Northern Ireland and affiliate member of the GDC, Donncha O’Carolan, said: “This is a great opportunity for registrants to speak directly to their regulator. They will be able to meet staff who are involved in the various areas of dental regulation.


“The GDC is keen to meet registrants and get their views on the standards that directly affect their working lives. A review of the current guidance document Standards for dental professionalsis taking place in 2011 and I would encourage anyone working in dentistry to have their say on this important area while they have the chance.”


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