The pace of change in dental politics can often seem glacial. However, we take a look back over what has been achieved, by and for the profession in Northern Ireland in the year that has passed.
Amalgam derogation secured
The new year kicked off with the European Parliament voting to ban dental amalgam from 1 January 2025, to apply directly in Northern Ireland. We lobbied intensely at Stormont, Westminster and EU levels, and highlighted the existential threat posed by an amalgam ban for a service already on its knees. Following this, in July we secured a 10-year derogation for Northern Ireland, or until a date is agreed under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, whichever is sooner.
Dental Core Trainee pay scales
In April, our longstanding campaign for Trainees in Northern Ireland to be paid at specialty registrar pay scales was ultimately successful. This issue had been impacting unfairly on trainees here over many years, ultimately resulting in high vacancy rates.
£9.2m Dental Access Scheme
While this scheme fell short of our requests for more fundamental General Dental Services (GDS) payment reform similar to the Scotland model, without doubt this reinvestment of funding back into GDS would not have happened without the high profile given to the issues impacting on GDS. It followed an open letter, signed by an incredible 720 GDPs in January asking the Department of Health (DoH) “What’s the Plan for Health Service Dentistry?”, handed in on the eve of the return of a functioning Northern Ireland Executive.
Community Dental Services appraisal review; an ’MOT’ of terms and conditions
We succeeded in having the DoH establish a series of short-life working groups designed to facilitate a review of the Community Dental Services (CDS) appraisal system, and to plug gaps in relation to issues such as guidance on the use of training budgets, and quantum of same. The importance of growing the CDS workforce has continued to be a key area of focus.
We look forward to being able to announce tangible progress from this work early in the new year.
Hospital Dental Service pay settlements
In August, we were delighted that a new pay offer for consultants was endorsed in a referendum. Working closely with the BMA who negotiated the deal, consultants achieved an uplift to all pay points, have fewer pay points, and at the time of the agreement secured the highest starting salary in the UK.
At the time of writing, a referendum on a new pay offer is being put to our Specialty and Specialist members, while Resident doctor and dental trainee talks on pay are underway. This has been due in no small part to the efforts of our recently established NI Hospital Dental Services Forum.
Joint Family Practitioner Services engagement
In December, along with our partners in BMA NI, Community Pharmacy NI and Optometry NI we wrote collectively to the Health Minister to seek mitigations on additional cost on primary care providers from higher employer National Insurance contributions stemming from the Budget, and urgent movement on Doctors’ and Dentist’ Review Body implementation. This followed closely on the heels of a joint letter from our NI chairs calling for dental system reform to be taken forward urgently.
We look forward to meeting in person with the Minister on our priority issues early in the new year. This work follows on from our oral evidence to the Assembly Health Committee in June and ongoing regular communications. The Committee will seek updates from the DoH on timelines for contract reform in GDS every eight weeks.
A thriving Northern Ireland branch
We have enjoyed another year of excellent turnouts at Branch CPD evenings during Professor Gerry McKenna’s year as president. Membership figures for Northern Ireland remain strong, while the Association has benefitted from the contributions of Richard Graham as national president, and Peter Crooks as vice-chair of the Principal Executive Committee.
In a year where it has often felt like we have had to fight harder just to stand still, it is important to recognise the wins. Once again, we must acknowledge huge efforts by our committee chairs and members who have given so generously of their time in support of their colleagues, and their profession. And, alongside these wins there is a myriad of other issues being taken forward and advocated on your behalf on a daily basis.
We will continue to be the collective voice of the profession, regardless of whether you are self-employed or salaried, or you see your future in the Health Service or moving into private practice.
Looking ahead
Next year will see the start of another new BDA triennium, and the refresh of our committees.
A special tribute must be paid to Roz McMullan and everything she has devoted to the Association, her profession, and the wellbeing of her colleagues as she steps down from Chair of NI Council in March.
Let us look to 2025 as the year where we aim to harness our collective energies to secure more wins for the profession, and just maybe where we make some much-needed strategic progress on the reform of our dental system in Northern Ireland. Together, we are stronger.
We will continue to advocate on the issues that matter most to you.
Thank you for your continued support.