A £9.2 million investment from Stormont’s Department of Health may not be enough to bring dentistry in the north “back from the brink” it has been warned.
The financial boost is aimed at widening public access to dental care, with services including examinations for children not yet registered with a dentist and an enhancement to fees paid to dentists for health service treatments including fillings and extractions.
It will also help provide for the treatment of high priority unregistered patients through an access scheme.
The department has also confirmed a 6% pay uplift for dentists for the current financial year.
Health minister Robin Swann said: “I am extremely grateful for the commitment and effort shown by General Dental Practitioners and their teams through the challenges faced over the last few years. I hope that this investment eases some of the pressures on practices and emphasises the importance of the service being provided.
“It is essential that we have a service that works for both the profession and patients.”
However, the chair of the British Dental Association’s NI Dental Practice Committee, Ciara Gallagher, said the assistance was not enough to fill gaps in care.
She said: “We get that this is the best the minister could do at this difficult time, but it falls well short of what needs to be done.
“Time will tell if it’s enough to bring dentistry in NI back from the brink. Patients are struggling to secure access, and real progress will hinge on real reform and fair funding.”
Meanwhile, Mr Swann also warned an upcoming EU ban on amalgam fillings would have a “significant impact” on services here, and said it should be scrutinised to see if the Stormont Brake on allowing the Assembly to object should be applied.
