Excessive bureaucracy is stifling dental practice

BDA Northern Ireland is calling for the withdrawal of the legislation that extends the role of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) to dental practice.

It would also like to see a rethink of regulation for dental practices that undertake solely private treatment. 


The BDA is urging dentists to contact their newly elected MLAs, requesting they petition the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Edwin Poots, and urge him to withdraw the current legislation and work with the profession to create a more appropriate regime.

Peter Crooks, chair of the BDA’s Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee, 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 election 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.’

Further details of the campaign, including a template letter for dentists to send to their MLAs, are available at: www.bda.org/nilobbying.