The privatisation of NHS dentistry? A national snapshot of general dental practitioners.
There is a prevalent perception that NHS dental treatment is increasingly difficult to access. In order to access the validity of this perception data on the percentage of private and NHS patients treated by general dental practitioners (GDPs) were analysed. These data were derived from a national survey. The findings showed that GDPs can be divided into three broad groups on the basis of the proportion of patients treated privately or through the National Health Service (NHS). Approximately 50% of GDPs nationally concentrate on NHS dentistry (85% or more of their patients are treated under the NHS); 25% treat more than 70% of their patients privately; the remaining minority of practitioners fall between these two positions treating moderate proportions of both private and NHS patients. Regional differences also exist in the payment systems chosen by GDPs. The median percentage of private patients per dentist varies widely by area being around 50% in the South East and South West, 30% in London, 20% in the West Midlands and Eastern counties and less than 10% elsewhere. In a multivariate regression GDP characteristics were also significant in explaining the median percentage of private patients per GDP The findings add to widely held concerns about access to NHS dentistry, though suggest that problems may be limited to certain areas of the United Kingdom.
Department of Dental Public Health & Oral Health Services Research, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Dental Institute, Kings College, London.
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D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011215:Practice Management, Dental / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011332:Privatization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013218:State Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom