Manx Care’s work to revise dental contracts in a bid to end waiting lists will cost £700,000.
In August the healthcare service said it expects to eliminate the dental waiting list by the end of this financial year.
Health Minister Claire Christian, stated the investment “standardises the value of a Unit of Dental Activity (UDA) across all contractors who have signed the revised contract, incorporates an uplift in pay, and introduces an additional 4,292 UDAs into the system”.
The funding is drawn from the Integrated Primary, Community and Therapy Services overall budget for 2025-2026 and a permanent uplift to the General Dental Services budget will be allocated from 2026 onwards.
Waiting Lists
Ms Christian added: “We are more than aware that previous attempts over recent years, prior to the creation of Manx Care to fund the waiting list to be taken by dental contractors, has not had a sustained effect.”
New contractual arrangements with dental contractors include a requirement for regular list cleansing.
“Dental contractors are now contractually obliged to cleanse their patient lists regularly and each quarter they will inform Manx Care how many new patient places they can offer,” the ninister said.
Furthermore, recall periods for routine examinations will be extended in line with clinical need.
Ms Christian explained: “The stretching of recall periods, where appropriate to do so, will free up the practice to see more patients and importantly to focus on those patients who are higher risk and need to be seen.”
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