Patients wait two years for check-ups as dentists drop NHS work

The British Dentistry Association (BDA) have said that NHS dentistry is ‘hanging by a thread’*, with some patients facing two-year waits for check-ups, despite being in pain.

What’s behind the shortage?

The BDA and the charity Healthwatch have called for reform of the NHS dental contract. Until last year, NHS dentists in England and Wales had been using the Units of Dental Activity (UDA) system. UDAs are used to measure a practice’s activity and courses of treatment such as check-up appointments or a filling. Dental practices are set targets of UDAs to achieve, and if that target is missed, the contract-holder and the practice can be forced to pay a fee.

Critics have later claimed that the UDA system does not incentivise preventative work and is a key reason for dentists moving to private practice only, or even leaving the healthcare system entirely, which means there are fewer dentists to take care of patients.

The knock-on effect for your business

Employers like you can feel the brunt of poor dental health. If left untreated, an employee’s dental issues can get significantly worse, leading to unplanned time off to receive treatment. Given all these issues, an employer arranged dental plan, either on a paid or voluntary basis, can provide financial reassurance and encourage employees to avoid dental issues getting worse, and going for timely routine check-ups.

Introducing Bupa Dental care

This doesn’t have to be the case, and we have a solution for your business**. Our Bupa voluntary dental solution can benefit all your employees. They can leverage varying levels of cover for a price that suits them, and at no business cost to you. Alternatively, you can offer a fully paid benefit to ensure every employee is covered.

What’s more, Bupa Dental Care Centres are currently taking in around 9,000 new patient registrations every week. Their appointment guarantee for UK insurance customers ensures your employees are always able to get an appointment at a dental centre near them, where they’ll have access to high-quality dental care.

Their products allow members to seek care with any dentist, as well as the following benefits:

• Appointment guarantee
• Discounted treatment
• A price plan suitable for them
• No forms, and no fuss claiming

If you’d like to find out more about Bupa Voluntary Dental Care, request a call back or contact Hugh Bennett, Employee Benefits Client Director, directly on 020 7543 2872.

*Read the full article here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59874320

**This proposition is suitable if your business has 100+ employees.