In response to the Health Service Journal Article — Revealed: The systems with a third of dental budget unspent, Professor Grant McIntyre, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, said:
"At a time when dentistry is under significant pressure, the details of a £350million underspend, representing 10 per cent of the total dental budget for England, is very concerning. This shortfall is undoubtedly directly impacting patients and dental teams nationwide.
The disparity in underspend across different regions exacerbates an already troubling 'postcode lottery' in dental care access. It is evident that the current system is not working for patients or dentists, with some practices receiving unjustifiably little support.
This will not only compromise patient care but also place undue strain on dental professionals, adding to the existing workforce problems that the profession has endured in recent years.
We must rectify the underlying issues, ensuring suitable working arrangements for professionals and fair access to quality NHS dental care for all patients."