The Health Secretary Wes Streeting recently announced an increase to the pay element of the Dentists’ NHS Contract in England in line with recommendations made by pay review bodies including the Review Body on Doctor’s and Dentist’s Remuneration (DDRB).
It’s positive that the Government is acknowledging the hard work of dentists, but going forward we want to see to the same recognition for dental nurses so that the widening and unfair pay disparity within the dental profession is consigned to the past.
The NHS provide a budget to dentists that is divided into two parts: the first being pay, and the second expenses assigned to cover the costs of running a practice. There is no provision to cover Dental Nurses’ remuneration.
Julie Grace, Leading Dental Nurse Activist for Community said,
“Across the profession there is a culture of Dentists and practice owners disengaging with any responsibility for the Dental Nurses wages, when in reality they allocate budgets as they choose and that should fundamentally cover wage increases for Dental Nurses.
“This disparity is not just about fairness; it has serious implications for the morale and motivation of Dental Nurses. These are professionals who work long hours – often in stressful conditions – and their dedication is essential to the success of any dental practice. Yet, when pay rises are only given to contract holders, it sends out a message that the contributions of Dental Nurses are undervalued. This has inevitably led to many Dental Nurses feeling forced to leave the job they love due to inadequate pay.
“The lack of regulation on how contracts are managed is also a huge ongoing concern. There is currently no requirement for practice owners to share this additional income with their team, including Dental Nurses. This lack of transparency and fairness exacerbates the inequality within the profession. Without clear rules or guidelines, Dental Nurses are left vulnerable to the discretion of their employers, leading to inconsistent and unequal pay practices. This situation is particularly troubling in a profession where teamwork and collaboration are essential for delivering high quality patient care.”
At Community, we believe that this situation is unacceptable. Dental Nurses deserve better, and we are committed to supporting them in the fight for fair pay. That’s why we are calling upon the government and employers to work with us to address this gap. We are stronger together, and with your support we can secure a fairer deal for Dental Nurses.
Join the union for dental nurses today
At Community, we fight to protect our members working across dental practices in the UK and support them with issues around dealing with workplace bullying, pay and wages, contracts, holidays, sickness and leave and more. As a member of Community, you can go to work and feel safe knowing that we are here to fight your corner when you need us.
If you are a member of Community and need advice or support, please contact our Service Centre at help@community-tu.org or on 0800 389 6332.
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