Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the Department of Health
You may be aware of the Written Ministerial
Statement (WMS) made by the Secretary of State today, regarding
NHS Dentistry Reforms, which announces that full implementation
of the reforms has been deferred but will take place by April
2006.
You will recall my answers to questions raised
at the Committee of Public Accounts hearing held on 14 December
2004, specifically questions 50, 53, 54, 90 and 91.
Question 50 specifically asked whether the British
Dental Association's decision to withdraw from the discussions
with Department of Health would mean that the timetable of implementation
of the new contractual arrangements for primary care dentistry
in England would no longer be met. My reply stated that this event
would not result in a delay. As you know, the discussions were
not absolutely crucial to the implementation of the timetable.
The reasons for later implementation are outlined
in the WMS attached. These include the desire to continue implementing
some of the changes currently underway, for example, dentists
who want to move to Personal Dental Service status being able
to do so as quickly as possible and the National Audit Office's
concern that Primary Care Trusts should have sufficient time to
acquire the necessary skills and resources before the full commissioning
of NHS dentistry.
The WMS also highlights the need for implementation
of the recently announced NICE guidance on dental recall intervals,
modifications to existing information systems and public consultations
about the change to patient charges.
In my reply to question 91, I indicated that
Primary Care Trusts would be ready to introduce the new contract
in October 2005. I believe they would have been. However, the
decision to allow more time for PDS conversion before full implementation
does give them even more time to prepare.
The decision to delay was taken in the light
of these factors subsequent to the PAC hearing and are unrelated
to the British Dental Association's decision to suspend discussions
with the Department. However, I thought that it was important
to send you this letter and to make the position clear.
Sir Nigel Crisp KCB
Chief Executive
Department of Health and NHS
10 January 2005
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