South Wales Central Conservative MS Andrew RT Davies has called for the implementation of the new dental contract to be delayed and trialled to minimise impacts on Vale patients.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Davies said that local dentists had raised concerns about IT provision within the contract.
He warned that the new contract, which was due to be with them by October, will now not be with them until February.
This will give them only two months to prepare before its planned introduction.
Mr Davies said a botched transition would have knock on effects for patients, and called on Senedd ministers to delay and pilot trial some of the measures within the contract.
In response, Senedd minister Jane Hutt said the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care would write to Mr Davies regarding his concerns.
Mr Davies said:
“Mismanagement of our Welsh NHS is the result of Senedd ministers spending too much time prioritising projects like Plaid and Labour’s Nation of Sanctuary for asylum seekers.
“Dental provision in the Vale is nowhere near good enough.
“A botched transition to the new contract will only make that worse.
“Senedd ministers must pull their fingers out to ensure the contract is implemented successfully.
“It would be preferable for the contract to be delayed and pilot trialled rather than seeing Vale patients suffer unnecessary disruption.”
ENDS
NOTE: Please find below the Senedd’s record of proceedings from Tuesday 9th December
Andrew RT Davies
15:17:17
And, secondly, on the dental contract, I raised an issue about IT provision for the dental contract come the start of April, where providers have given notice that they will not provide support, given the very time-limited period now for the new contract to be implemented. I’ve had representations from dentists in my own patch now that have indicated that the contract that was due to be with them by October will not be with them, now, until February, a mere two months before its introduction. That is unacceptable, and we need to understand what the health Minister is doing to make sure, if he’s going to stick to the date, that the contract is implemented successfully, or better still— delay and pilot trial some of the measures within that contract.
Jane Hutt
15:18:35
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care will be very pleased to write to you about the issue in terms of IT provision and the dental contract.