The Welsh Government’s plans, which would have seen patients allocated a different dentist for each check-up, rather than staying with their family practice, have been dropped.
A new NHS dental contract will instead pay dentists based on patients' oral health needs, rather than seeing them routinely twice a year. This could mean gaps of up to two years between check-ups.
Janet Finch-Saunders, the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has expressed concerns that some patients could wait longer than 24 months to be seen. While it is important that people with dental issues are prioritised, it is equally important that the dental health of all residents is maintained.
Commenting on the U-turn in dental contracts, Janet said:
“I welcome the U-turn; however, a number of concerns persist. Intervals for routine examinations could be extended to between 18 and 24 months. The consultation response document published yesterday noted that there is a risk that some patients could wait longer than 24 months.
“Under the new contract system, those who pay for NHS treatment will pay 50% of their treatment package value, capped at a maximum of £384, regardless of how much care they need. Whilst I appreciate that this is a reduction, this is yet another example of middle-income residents having to pay more to the state.
“Questions need to be raised about whether any modelling has been undertaken to explore the possibility of making NHS dentistry genuinely free at the point of service for NHS patients.”
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gollwng cynlluniau a fyddai wedi gweld deintydd gwahanol yn cael ei ddyrannu i gleifion ar gyfer pob archwiliad, yn hytrach nag aros gyda'u practis teuluol.
Yn hytrach, bydd contract deintyddol newydd y GIG yn talu deintyddion yn seiliedig ar anghenion iechyd y geg cleifion, yn hytrach na'u gweld yn rheolaidd ddwywaith y flwyddyn. Gallai hyn olygu bylchau o hyd at ddwy flynedd rhwng archwiliadau.
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, yr Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi mynegi pryderon y gallai rhai cleifion orfod aros mwy na 24 mis i gael eu gweld. Er ei bod hi'n bwysig rhoi blaenoriaeth i bod pobl â phroblemau deintyddol, mae hi'r un mor bwysig bod iechyd deintyddol pob pawb yn cael ei gynnal.
Wrth sôn am y tro pedol ar gontractau deintyddol, dywedodd Janet:
“Rwy'n croesawu'r newid meddwl hwn; ond mae sawl pryder yn parhau. Gallai’r cyfnodau rhwng archwiliadau rheolaidd gael eu hymestyn i rhwng 18 a 24 mis. Mae'r ddogfen ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad a gyhoeddwyd ddoe yn nodi bod risg y gallai rhai cleifion orfod aros mwy na 24 mis.
“O dan y contract newydd, bydd y rhai sy'n talu am driniaeth y GIG yn talu 50% o werth eu pecyn triniaeth, wedi'i gapio ar uchafswm o £384, waeth faint o ofal sydd ei angen arnynt. Er fy mod i'n gwerthfawrogi ffaith bod hyn yn ostyngiad, mae'n enghraifft arall o drigolion incwm canolig yn gorfod talu mwy i'r wladwriaeth.
“Mae angen codi cwestiynau ynghylch a oes unrhyw waith modelu wedi'i wneud i archwilio'r posibilrwydd o wneud deintyddiaeth y GIG yn wirioneddol rhad ac am ddim ar y pwynt gwasanaeth i gleifion y GIG.”
DIWEDD
Llun: Janet Finch-Saunders AS
