Association calls for a rethink on regulation

The British Dental Association (BDA) in Northern Ireland is calling for an end to the involvement of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) in dental practices.

The association wants to see the legislation that extended the role of the RQIA withdrawn and is calling in its members to contact their newly-elected MLAs to petition Edwin Poots, Minister of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, to that effect.

Peter Crooks (left), chairman of the BDA's Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee, also revealed that the association wants to see a rethink on regulation for dental practices that undertake solely private treatment.

He said: "The burden of regulation in dental practice is growing. While dentists absolutely appreciate the importance of maintaining patient safety, a balance must be struck so that regulation does not negatively impact on patient care. The BDA has worked hard to convey this message to MLAs in the last session of the assembly and highlighted it in our manifesto.

"What's important now is that our new MLAs appreciate the importance of putting patients before bureaucracy. I urge every dentist across Northern Ireland to get in touch with their new assembly members and call for the minister to take action to withdraw the current legislation and listen to the profession's concerns before creating a new regime."