Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:48 pm on 22 March 2022.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 1:48, 22 March 2022

I'm puzzled at the report of the letter, because, as from next month, dentists in Wales have a choice. They are able to take the new contract, but if they feel the new contract does not suit them they will be able to continue with the existing contract. Nobody is being forced to take the new contract. The new contract has been very carefully negotiated with the professional bodies. Many, many dentists believe it is far preferable to the existing contract because it allows them to carry out quality dentistry rather than the treadmill of UDAs—units of dental activity—that drive the existing contract and push dentists into doing routine check-ups, small procedures, rather than practising at the top end of their professional competence. The new contract rewards dentists for preventative work and for doing the things that you need a fully qualified dentist to do. But, if an individual practice believes that the existing contract is the one that works for them, then that will be available to them after 1 April.