The British Dental Association (BDA) in Northern Ireland has said that NHS dentistry in the province can’t run on “goodwill alone” after a one per cent uplift in dentists’ pay was recommended.

The Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) recommendation for NI GDPs for 20ı7/20ı8 means that associates and practice owners have seen their incomes fall by more than a quarter since 2009.

Peter Crooks (pictured), chair of the BDA’s Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee, said: “The uplift recommended by the DDRB does nothing to arrest the long-term decline in GDPs’ real incomes which continues to jeopardise investment across
the service.

“It’s not surprising that dentists’ morale and motivation in Northern Ireland is at worryingly low levels and linked to working longer hours and carrying out more health service work. This cannot be sustained indefinitely or on goodwill alone.”