Reheated austerity will hit hard-pressed families

The British Dental Association has lamented the latest increase in NHS patient charges, stressing these ‘stealth cuts' will not put a penny into the cash-strapped service. Charges in

England will rise by an average of 2.3%. This will mean the cost of a band 1 treatment like a check-up will increase from £26.80 to £27.40, a band 2 like a filling will increase from £73.50

to £75.30, and a band 3 like dentures will increase from £319.10 to £326.70. While below the level of inflation, the BDA has demanded assurances the new Government will not ape its

predecessor's playbook and treat this increase in charges simply as a substitute for state investment. NHS dentistry's budget has been effectively static at around £3bn for fifteen

years, with patient charges forming an ever-greater share of the total pot until COVID. These cuts are unique - dentistry is the only part of the NHS operating on less direct Government

spend than it was in 2010. The professional body has quickly mobilised with campaign partners 38 Degrees, calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Health Secretary Wes Streeting, not merely

to abandon the hike, but to ensure the coming Spending Review puts in place sustainable funding for the service that does not target hard-pressed patients. Despite having pledged new

investment for its manifesto pledge of 700,000 new appointments, the new Government has changed tack, simply recycling existing underspends, which are themselves the net result of a

generation of underfunding. In January Streeting told parliament ‘NHS dentistry is at death's door.' The BDA cannot see how this move stands any chance of reviving the patient.

Shiv Pabary, Chair of the British Dental Association's General Dental Practice Committee said: ‘This hike is reheated austerity. It won't put a penny into a struggling service. Our

patients are paying more, just so Ministers can pay less. Rachel Reeves will need to justify her stealth cuts to millions of patients.' RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions

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