AQW 4896/17-22 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health how he will financially support dentists to ensure they can operate safely when they resume non-emergency appointments.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 16 June 2020
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 16 June 2020
- Answer due by
- 1 July 2020
- Answered
- 24 June 20208 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
In light of the risks due to Covid-19, non-urgent dental care had been suspended in Northern Ireland since March 2020. This has resulted in a significant reduction in the normal Item of Service (IoS) payments to General Dental Practitioners (GDPs). In response, the Financial Support Scheme (FSS) was established as a temporary measure to reduce the risk to the financial viability of the service.
FSS payments worth £12 million have been made to GDPs over the past three months in addition to £3 million in IoS payments.
In order to support dentists as they resume non-urgent dental care from 29 June 2020, GDPs will continue to be able to apply for additional FSS support in respect of their July and August 2020 IoS payments. For the remainder of 2020-21 the Department of Health will provide GDPs with ongoing financial support, within the available budget, to support the delivery of dental care.