The health and social care bill

Abstract

This Bill, which was published on 13th March 2002, has been described as 'paving the way for the biggest shake-up in NHS dentistry for over half a century'1. John Renshaw, Chairman of the British Dental Association's Executive Board called it a 'once in a generation opportunity to save NHS dentistry after decades of neglect by successive governments.1 He said the Association welcomed the Government's move to secure a strong NHS dental service with improved access for patients. But the BDA had serious concerns that unless NHS dentistry was properly resourced, the Bill's promised reforms would not be delivered. 'There is,' he said, 'an urgent need to make the NHS a good place to work for dentists and other dental professionals. Better funding and steps to make NHS dentistry an attractive career must go hand-in-hand with the measures proposed in the Bill.'1.