PROPOSED Government reforms of NHS dentistry carry "significant risks" and could fail to ensure access for patients, a National Audit Office report warned today.
The NAO's study
says there is a risk dentists will reduce NHS commitments during the
shortage of practitioners in the £3.8 bn industry.
Amid Government claims the plans would see some two million NHS places created, the British Dental Association agreed with the NAO it was "make or break" time for state provision.
It said it had been telling the Government for some time NHS dentistry was at crisis point and botched changes may well push it over the edge.
NAO head Sir John Bourn said: "There are good reasons to modernise the system but it is vital that the Department gets it right.
"I have identified significant risks that will need to be carefully managed."
The NAO points to a risk of under-treatment under a three-year contract system from October 2005 for dentists offering care with contributions from the state. This was rather than the over-treatment which could occur at present.
