Northern Ireland ‘reckless’ budget cuts under fire by BDA
Plans to save £70million via budget cuts by the Health Service in Northern Ireland have been attacked by the British Dental Association (BDA).
Despite tooth decay remaining the main cause of the hospitalisation of children, the budget for General and Primary Dental Services in NI has steadily fallen annually since 2012.
The BDA have now called for a more appropriate investment in dental support for youths and children in the light of this information, including the reformation of contracts and a more coherent workforce in order to sustain the service more effectively. This comes in the wake of the BDA’s previous arguments for Stormont to deliver a fresh strategy for oral health to replace its aging plan.
A response has so far been issued by the Chair of the BDA’s Northern Ireland Council, Roslyn McMullan, with further statements to be put forward soon on behalf of Northern Irish dentists.
“When tooth extractions are the leading cause our children going general anaesthetic cutting front line services smacks of recklessness. This service is already running on empty, and taking out further resources out will only place greater strain on our GPs, hospitals and A&E units,” said Roslyn McMullan.
“Northern Ireland has the worst oral health inequalities in the UK, and the authorities need to stop seeking false economies. They cannot continue abdicating their responsibility to curb decay in young people, or to engage with the growing challenges of an aging population. The morale of front line staff is at an all-time low. Government has failed to modernize the service, or offer contracts that are fit for purpose. It will need to show it is prepared to put patients first.”
