@thebda.bsky.social
The British Dental Association is the voice of dentists and dental students in the UK. https://www.bda.org/
Thanks to Minister for Care @skinnock.bsky.social and Chief Dental Officer for England Jason Wong for attending our Q&A session on NHS #dentistry in Parliament today.
The packed room shows the strength of feeling in Parliament on this crucial issue.
New research reveals that just like cigarettes ultra-processed foods are designed to encourage consumption and addiction.
It’s why government needs to step up the fight.
Sign here if you agree it’s time to make sugar the new tobacco https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/make-sugar-the-new-tobacco
"We see a lot of children here that can't see a regular dentist that are turning up with abscesses & infections," says Shiv Pabary
Urgent care is vital. But a govt that says the NHS must shift from sickness to prevention must not forget routine care. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9qp2xx3e37o
This headline could come from any corner of the UK.
Every vacancy that goes unfilled reflects deep seated problems.
We can't have NHS dentistry without NHS dentists.
The service needs to be a place dentists would chose to build a career.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3dm2g5k3dgo
“Soundbites are all well and good" says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social
"But what tens of millions of our patients need is real commitment, underpinned by sustainable investment.” https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/primary-care-bodies-unite-to-take-fight-for-financial-security-future-to-parliament/
Pleasure to meet @leepitcher.baky.social in Parliament. Thank you for your support as we call for urgent investment in NHS dentistry and other parts of primary care. @thebda.bsky.social
28.01.2026 10:21 — 👍 5 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
"There's no point increasing training places for dental students if there are no NHS practices left for them to train in after graduating” warned @drlaurenharrhy.bsky.social
We can’t have NHS dentistry without NHS dentists.
Practices need decent contracts to retain and recruit staff.
Was it the staff meeting from hell?
Today Dental Public Health staff will still be looking for answers on the abolition of NHS England.
https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/nhs-england-merger-public-health-experts-offered-euphemisms-not-clarity-over-jobs/
Thank you for a constructive discussion on what can be done both locally and nationally to end the dental desert in Cornwall. @benmaguiremp.bsky.social
We’ll support you in any way we can as you stand up for your constituents’ right to see an NHS dentist @thebda.bsky.social
Great to speak to @pauldaviesmp.bsky.social today about why access to NHS dentistry is a crucial issue, morally, economically and politically. We need urgency and ambition to ensure everyone who needs to see an NHS dentist can do so. @thebda.bsky.social
27.01.2026 20:53 — 👍 12 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0“We risk losing the next generation of dentists,” says Makyle Khan, a dental student at Liverpool, and part of our Future Leaders Programme.
As the voice of dentistry, we’re equipping the next generation with the skills and confidence to be heard.
From April, changes to the NHS contract in England will be felt in every NHS practice.
We've set out the changes to help you understand the adjustments and how you will implement them.
📼Watch the webinar now https://www.bda.org/learning/courses-and-events/contract-change-england-webinar-recording/
"I've spent an hour a week for the last three or four months ringing round dentists," says Joe from Londonderry.
Across the UK it’s the same story.
None of this is inevitable.
Failed contracts and underfunding are political choices.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y22v9p7vyo
Govt to tie the hands of practices on urgent care.
We worked to secure a level that's tolerable.
But practices could face penalties for failure to hit targets simply because local demand does not exist.
https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/government-tie-hands-of-practices-on-urgent-care/
The abolition of NHS England has left dental public health staff flying blind.
They deserve real clarity on the future of their vital roles.
https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/dental-public-health-staff-deserve-clarity-on-vital-roles/
Leanne says she "wants to chop her head off and start again", after a her Hollywood Smile resulted in her nose collapsing and a life of constant pain.
With dental tourism patients need to understand the risks.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1je9p8wny5o
The NHS Sexual Safety Charter - designed to improve how workplaces address sexual harassment - isn’t working.
Colleagues on the frontline are seeking enforceable action.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jan/18/charter-to-tackle-sexual-harassment-across-nhs-in-england-has-failed-say-unions
📉Underspends in dentistry have crashed by more than 90%.
❎They've all but vanished
💷But the stock excuses for starving NHS dentistry of funding are still with us.
https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/dental-underspends-vanish-but-the-access-crisis-is-still-with-us/
A very special message of congratulations to our former president Roz McMullan.
Today she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to mental health and wellbeing in dentistry.
👏 from countless friends and colleagues across this profession.
Ministers have used the vast underspends in NHS dentistry as an excuse not to invest.
They've now all but vanished - and we still have an access crisis.
We have practices delivering NHS care at a loss.
Without sustainable funding there is no way to restore care to millions.
Our warmest congratulations to friends and colleagues recognised in the New Year’s Honours.
Find out more - https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/dental-professionals-recognised-in-new-year-s-honours/
Dev Sharma has been fighting for a ban on junk food ads since he was 14.
6 years on, there's progress, but lobbyists have ensured Big Food can still churn out ads that reach 8-year-olds.
Govt needs to go further and faster https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/make-sugar-the-new-tobacco
There have been delays, disputes, & compromises but this is still progress.
Children should no longer be exposed to 'less healthy' food and drink ads on TV before 9pm or online at any time.
If you think govt should go further and faster, click here: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ma...
05.01.2026 16:50 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0📉 Yet Government is yet to commit an extra penny to close this access gap.
🦷To ensure this isn’t an empty gesture Ministers must ensure adults who grew up in care can actually get an appointment.
More here [3]
www.itv.com/news/2025-12...
💷 We know charges encourage millions of vulnerable people to delay or avoid needed care.
🫄But this system is in crisis. Pregnant women are already eligible for free care - and 1.5m have missed out since lockdown.
📈 Nearly 14 million adults are unable to access care
[2]
The Government says it will extend free NHS dental care to young people leaving the care system until their 25th birthday.
This policy makes perfect sense.
If you could get an appointment…
A thread [1]
What will the latest changes to NHS dentistry mean for your practice?
Cut through the spin and get the answers you need at our free webinar.
https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/england-interim-change-may-help-but-cannot-be-end-of-the-road/
👏 to The Guardian’s editorial.
“The new fee structure announced by the health minister, Stephen Kinnock, is a big tweak to the existing system.”
“But it is still a tweak, and not the overhaul that most experts agree is needed.”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre....
BREAKING: The final shape of changes to the NHS contract for 2026.
Find out what it means for you and sign up for our coming webinar.
👇
https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/england-interim-change-may-help-but-cannot-be-end-of-the-road/
