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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Call for dentists' NHS-work quota | Call for dentists' NHS-work quota |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| NHS dentists should face quotas forcing them to do more NHS work rather than private treatments, campaigners say. | |
| Patient Concern said quotas should be imposed on new dentists for several years, as figures show under 50% of NHS dentists' income is now from NHS work. | Patient Concern said quotas should be imposed on new dentists for several years, as figures show under 50% of NHS dentists' income is now from NHS work. |
| Labour MP Kevin Barron, of the Commons health committee, said dentists had a "moral obligation" to give the NHS more as it costs £175,000 to train them. | Labour MP Kevin Barron, of the Commons health committee, said dentists had a "moral obligation" to give the NHS more as it costs £175,000 to train them. |
| But dentists said quotas would be "unfair and unworkable". | But dentists said quotas would be "unfair and unworkable". |
| Earnings rise | Earnings rise |
| According to latest figures from the NHS Information Centre, NHS dentists on average now earn about 52% of their income from private patients - the first time private work has accounted for a greater share. | According to latest figures from the NHS Information Centre, NHS dentists on average now earn about 52% of their income from private patients - the first time private work has accounted for a greater share. |
| That compares with 42% in 1999-2000 and the rise has helped push average earnings up to £86,000 - a rise of 11% in a year. | That compares with 42% in 1999-2000 and the rise has helped push average earnings up to £86,000 - a rise of 11% in a year. |
| [Dentists] just do not have the same public sector ethos that GPs do for example Kevin Barron MP | [Dentists] just do not have the same public sector ethos that GPs do for example Kevin Barron MP |
| Figures from the General Dental Council register also suggest the number of dentists treating solely private patients has soared by over a third in the last two years. | Figures from the General Dental Council register also suggest the number of dentists treating solely private patients has soared by over a third in the last two years. |
| There is no exact figure for how many are doing this, but it is estimated to be between 2,500 and 3,500. | There is no exact figure for how many are doing this, but it is estimated to be between 2,500 and 3,500. |
| This compares with the 21,111 dentists with NHS contracts - a slight increase on previous years - but a figure which still leaves 2m people without access to NHS care. | This compares with the 21,111 dentists with NHS contracts - a slight increase on previous years - but a figure which still leaves 2m people without access to NHS care. |
| Mr Barron, who chairs the Commons health committee, said: "I think [dentists] are letting the country and taxpayer down. | Mr Barron, who chairs the Commons health committee, said: "I think [dentists] are letting the country and taxpayer down. |
| "The profession should take a good look at itself. [Dentists] just do not have the same public sector ethos that GPs do for example." | "The profession should take a good look at itself. [Dentists] just do not have the same public sector ethos that GPs do for example." |
| 'Long-running problem' | 'Long-running problem' |
| Joyce Robins, co-director of Patient Concern, said: "Access to NHS dentistry has been a long-running problem, I don't see why we can't impose quotas on dentists who work in the health service to ensure they do more NHS work." | Joyce Robins, co-director of Patient Concern, said: "Access to NHS dentistry has been a long-running problem, I don't see why we can't impose quotas on dentists who work in the health service to ensure they do more NHS work." |
| She said this quota should be imposed on new dentists for several years before they could opt out, although dentists should still be allowed to do some private work. | She said this quota should be imposed on new dentists for several years before they could opt out, although dentists should still be allowed to do some private work. |
| Professor Jimmy Steele, who teaches dental students at the University of Newcastle, said a quota on everyone would not be fair on dentists who had perhaps spent a lot of their career in the NHS. | Professor Jimmy Steele, who teaches dental students at the University of Newcastle, said a quota on everyone would not be fair on dentists who had perhaps spent a lot of their career in the NHS. |
| The reason dentists are turning towards private work is that they have been unhappy with the way the NHS [system] has worked for years Lester Ellman, of the British Dental Association | The reason dentists are turning towards private work is that they have been unhappy with the way the NHS [system] has worked for years Lester Ellman, of the British Dental Association |
| But he agreed new dentists could be tied in to a certain amount of NHS work for a period after qualifying, suggesting five or 10 years. | But he agreed new dentists could be tied in to a certain amount of NHS work for a period after qualifying, suggesting five or 10 years. |
| "They [dental students] are heavily supported by the taxpayer through long and expensive training so do have a duty to the NHS, but when I put that to my students they are sometimes surprised by the notion." | "They [dental students] are heavily supported by the taxpayer through long and expensive training so do have a duty to the NHS, but when I put that to my students they are sometimes surprised by the notion." |
| But Lester Ellman, of the British Dental Association, said quotas would be "unfair and unworkable". | But Lester Ellman, of the British Dental Association, said quotas would be "unfair and unworkable". |
| "The reason dentists are turning towards private work is that they have been unhappy with the way the NHS [system] has worked for years. | "The reason dentists are turning towards private work is that they have been unhappy with the way the NHS [system] has worked for years. |
| "They do not get time to treat the patients properly." | "They do not get time to treat the patients properly." |
| A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "It would not be reasonable to prevent dentists carrying out private work if they are meeting their NHS commitments." | A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "It would not be reasonable to prevent dentists carrying out private work if they are meeting their NHS commitments." |
| She added a new system introduced last year was designed to give the NHS more funds if dentists left the NHS. | She added a new system introduced last year was designed to give the NHS more funds if dentists left the NHS. |