The award is double the 3% the previous government had budgeted for. This gap reflects the existential threat to the service spelled out in our damning evidence to the pay review body.
However, this must be just the start of a journey on fair pay. Our analysis of data on NHS dentists’ earnings and expenses published last week indicates that since 2008/9 the typical dentist in England has seen real cuts in pay of over 40% - a squeeze with no comparator in the UK public or private sectors.
We are also looking at a possible breakthrough for dentists working under the junior contract in secondary care. We will be holding a referendum with hospital members on the deal, which provides an uplift of over 20% over two years and could turn the page on prolonged industrial action.
Dentists in primary care have not gone down that road, but they have been voting with their feet by reducing or ending their NHS commitment.
We are encouraged by early talks with government on reform of the discredited contract that is fuelling the exodus from the service. Maintaining that momentum is key to keeping demoralised dentists on board, and government will need to demonstrate both urgency and ambition.
“It’s progress, but one above-inflation increase will not correct a decade of savage pay cuts with no equal,” says GDPC Chair Shawn Charlwood.
“High street dentists have not taken industrial action. They are simply walking away.
“We won’t halt this exodus without real reform and fair funding.”
Agreement is yet to be reached on how dentists’ soaring expenses will be reflected in a final deal. This is likely to eat into the above-inflation award.
