Proposed NI dentist funding 'disappointing'
The British Dental Association (BDA) has said the very survival of health service dentistry depends on radical transformation, but proposals announced by the health minister are "not it".On Wednesday Mike Nesbitt provided details of a £7m investment in General Dental Services for 2025/26.The Chair of Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee has said dentists were "hoping for more" following the proposed dental funding.Ciara Gallagher added she understood the budgetary constraints that Mike Nesbitt is working under but she is "disappointed" for patients and colleagues.
Nesbitt also announced the expansion of the Happy Smiles programme.The health minister stated: "Alongside these specific interventions, I am clear that the General Dental Services, as with other services, require sustained effort to ensure sustainability over the longer term."My department is committed to advancing work on the long-term future of dental services, to ensure patients can continue to access care when they need it, whilst taking measures to ensure the service is sustainable."I have approved the commissioning of a General Dental Services cost of service review to be completed in 2025/26. This will in turn provide a robust evidence base to inform how the service will develop over the coming years."
Ms Gallagher said the funding is "largely a continuation" of measures that are already in place and it will make it "even more difficulties for patients to access care"."That's why we cannot recommend these proposals as they stand to the profession," she said. "We urgently need radical transformation of dental services here, but this isn't it. Despite the efforts of the minister, our question to the Executive is how can dentistry be transformed with such a constrained health budget?"
Dental contract 'not fit for purpose'
The BDA has called for immediate short-term 'bridging' support for dental practices as a lifeline to cover costs.This follows a meeting with the health minister who outlined his department's proposals for 25/26 to BDA representatives, following a debate on access to dentistry in Stormont on 27 May.The BDA said that the "consensus is that the current dental contract isn't fit for purpose and in some instances fails to cover costs".
Last month, BBC News NI learned that dentists in Northern Ireland had removed more than 53,000 NHS patients from their practice lists over the past two years.During 2023 and 2024, 114 dentists handed back their NHS contracts to the Department of Health (DoH), with many of these now doing private work only.Out of the 360 dental practices in Northern Ireland, only two are now fully NHS.
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The Sun
26 minutes ago
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Full list of freebies and discounts you can claim in June worth up to £40,000 if you're on PIP
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On this part the weekly rate is either £29.20 or £77.05 - and you could get both elements. In addition to the benefit payments, if you claim PIP then you can also get a range of additional perks and discounts, such as a Blue Badge or capped water bills. Here we reveal a full list of benefits you can claim this month. Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence Blue badge If you receive PIP then you are automatically eligible for a blue badge if you either: Scored eight points or more in the 'moving around' part of your PIP assessment. Scored ten points in the 'planning and following journeys' section of your PIP assessment and were put in category 'E'. This means your stress, anxiety or other mental health issues stop you from leaving the house. You should be able to find this information on your PIP decision letter. But you can still get a badge if you have long-term problems walking or going to places, including problems caused by stress, anxiety or other mental health issues. What is PIP? HOUSEHOLDS suffering from a long-term illness, disability or mental health condition can get extra help through personal independence payments (PIP). The maximum you can receive from the Government benefit is £172.75 a week. PIP is for those over 16 and under the state pension age, currently 66. Crucially, you must also have a health condition or disability where you either have had difficulties with daily living or getting around - or both- for three months, and you expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months (unless you're terminally ill with less than 12 months to live). You can also claim PIP if you're in or out of work and if you're already getting limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) payments if you claim Universal Credit. PIP is made up of two parts and whether you get one or both of these depends on how severely your condition affects you. You may get the mobility part of PIP if you need help going out or moving around. The weekly rate for this is either £26.90 or £71. While on the daily living part of PIP, the weekly rate is either £68.10 or £101.75 - and you could get both elements, so up to £172.75 in total. You can claim PIP at the same time as other benefits, except the armed forces independence payment. Make a claim by calling the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 0800 917 2222. You are also eligible if you have severe problems using both arms. You need to contact your local council to apply for a Blue Badge. You can use your PIP award letter to apply but some councils may charge you a fee. The most you can be charged in England is £10 and £20 in Scotland. It is free in Wales. Once you receive the badge you can use car parking spaces that are closer to entrances and may be larger. You can also park on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours, unless there are loading or unloading restrictions. Discounted days out If you receive PIP then you could get discounts on days out and memberships. You may be able to save on cinemas, theatres, theme parks and zoos. The charity Scope has a guide outlining some of the discounts on offer. To find out more visit If you have a carer then you may also be able to get two for one tickets to hundreds of attractions. For example, your carer may be entitled to discounted or free entry to National Trust and English Heritage properties. Similarly, the UK Cinema Association offers CEA cards that will give your carer a free ticket at participating cinemas. All Merlin Entertainment attractions also offer one complimentary pass per disabled person. Buying a Merlin Annual Pass will get you a free Carer Pass which can be used by anyone assisting you on the day. Benefit top-ups If you receive certain benefits then you may be able to get a top-up, which is called a disability premium. To be eligible you will need to receive one of the following along with PIP: Housing benefit Jobseeker's allowance Employment and support allowance Pension credit - but only if you get the PIP daily living component You should contact the office that is in charge of your benefits. Tell them that you get PIP and ask them what other help you can get. You may need to send them a copy of your PIP award letter. They should be able to tell you how much extra you will get. Vehicle tax reduction If you claim the standard rate mobility part of PIP then you can get a 50% reduction in vehicle tax. Vehicle tax, also known as road tax, is a fee you need to pay to use your car on public roads. To qualify for a discount the vehicle must be registered in the disabled person's name or their nominated driver's name. To apply for a reduction you will need to make claim and provide the following documents: A letter or statement from the Department for Work and Pensions that shows your PIP rate and the dates you're getting it. The vehicle log book (V5C). A V10 form. Evidence of a current MOT, if you need one. For example, this could be a copy of your vehicle's MOT history or your MOT certificate, if you have one. A cheque or payable order (made out to 'DVLA, Swansea') for 50% of the full rate of car tax for the vehicle. You should send your application to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BF. If you are on the enhanced rate of PIP then you could qualify for a complete exemption from vehicle tax. If you are applying for the first time, you need to visit your nearest Post Office branch. You can find your nearest branch at or call 0345 722 3344. Lease a vehicle If you are awarded the enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP and have at least 12 months left on your current allowance, you may be able to join the Motability Scheme. Through the scheme you can use your qualifying mobility allowance to lease a new vehicle. The scheme will cover your insurance, servicing and breakdown. For more information about joining the scheme and to explore the range of available vehicles, you can request an information pack from the Motability Scheme website. Disabled Facilities Grant You may be able to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant if you are disabled and want to make changes to your home to suit your needs. For example, you may want to build an extension or install ramps. The exact amount you could get depends on where you live. How to cut your bills IF you're struggling financially, you might be able to cut the cost of your bills to help you get out of the red. Council tax: You can apply for a council tax reduction on the website but you'll need to meet certain criteria. Your bill could be cut by as much as 100 per cent if you're on a low income or claim benefits. Carers who look after someone in the household for at least 35 hours a week are also exempt from paying. Water: Households might be able to save money by getting a water meter but it all depends on how much you're using. To check if it's finacially worthwhile, use the Consumer Council for Water's free ater meter calculator. Rent: If you have the space available and your landlord or local authority says it's ok to do so, you might want to consider getting a flatmate. Not only will you split the cost of the rent, but also the other bills. Hire purchase: If you're struggling to make your repayments on your hire purchase, you can usually end the contract by returning the goods. You will have to pay all the instalments due up to the time you end the agreement but this will limit the amount you owe. Contact Citizens Advice for free for more help with this. Gas and electricty: MoneySavingExpert says families can save £330 on average by switching from Standard Variable Tariffs (SVTs) to a better rate. Use a comparison site such as MoneySuperMarket or Energyhelpline to see what deals are available. Mortgage: If you get into debt with your mortgage payments, don't wait for your lender to chase you. Work out what you can afford using the Citizens Advice budgeting tool so you can discuss your payment options moving forward with your mortgage provider. Secured Loan: Your secured loan might be covered by the Consumer Credit Act and if it is, you may be able to apply for a Time Order. This is a special agreement by the courts allowing you more time to make payments. Secured loans not covered by the Consumer Credit Act include gas, electricity or water meters, payments that need to be written off in full, mortgages, credit union loans, loans from an employer and some short term trade agreements. County Court Judgements: If you receive a County Court claim form talk to a free debt advice service straight away. This includes Citizens Advice (0808 800 9060), StepChange (0800 138 1111) and the National Debtline (0808 808 4000). TV licence: Some households are eligible for a reduced fee or free TV Licence. Check here to see if you are entitled to a reduced or free rate. If you live in England then you could get up to £30,000, while those who live in Wales could get £36,000 and up to £25,000 in Northern Ireland. You will need to apply through your local council, which must give you a decision within six months. Free prescriptions If your disability means that you are eligible for PIP then you may also be able to get free NHS prescriptions. Whether you are eligible will depend on your specific medical condition. Certain illnesses such as epilepsy and diabetes automatically entitle you to free prescriptions. To get them you will need to apply for a medical exemption certificate, which is a card that fits in your wallet. To apply visit your doctor and request an FP92A form. Your doctor should be able to help you with the process. Disabled person's railcard People who receive PIP may be able to save a third on train travel with a Disabled Persons Railcard. The card costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years. On average it could save you up to £126 but the exact amount will depend on how often you travel by train. To apply visit You will need a copy of your award letter showing that you have received PIP in the past 12 months. Water bills Some water suppliers provide help for customers who receive certain benefits, such as PIP, through their WaterSure scheme. To qualify you need to have a water meter and need to use a lot of water due to a medical condition. The scheme works by capping your bills and does not impact your credit score. The cap depends on where you live. For example, Severn Trent will cap your fresh water bill at £321.23 a year, while for sewerage it is £234.66. This means in total you would pay up to £555.89 a year. Who is eligible for the scheme varies depending on your supplier, so check directly with them to see if you qualify. .
