Latest news with #BritishDentalAssociation
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dentists say funding plan will not transform services
The radical transformation needed for the survival of health service dentistry will not be delivered under proposals from the health minister, the British Dental Association (BDA) has said. On Wednesday Mike Nesbitt provided details of a £7m investment in general dental services for 2025-26. The chairwoman of the Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee said dentists were "hoping for more" following the proposed dental funding. Ciara Gallagher said she understood the budgetary constraints Nesbitt was working under but was disappointed for patients and colleagues. Nesbitt also announced the expansion of the Happy Smiles programme. "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," he said. "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." Nesbitt said he had approved the commissioning of a review into the cost of general dental services, which should be completed by the end of 2026. He said this would "provide a robust evidence base to inform how the service will develop over the coming years". Ms Gallagher said the funding was "largely a continuation" of measures that were already in place and it would make "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?" Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, dentist Rachele Crozier said the hope was the "minister would do something that would help sustain and encourage people to remain in the NHS, and continue to provide NHS care". She said dentists needed more clarity on the funding. "There is not very much detail yet. Dentists don't really know how that funding will look, when it will come to us, how it is going to come to us," she said. The system in its current state, she added, is "teetering on the brink of collapse and ultimately it is patients who will suffer." 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 2025-26 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". In April, 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. More than 53,000 NHS patients removed from dentist lists Dentists to 'shrink NHS element' to 'keep the lights on'
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Warning baby food pouches 'more sugary than Coke' risk giving infants a sweet tooth for life
Research by the British Dental Association, BBC Panorama and Leeds University reveals what is really in those healthy-sounding baby food pouches Baby food pouches are more sugary than Coke and risk giving infants a sweet tooth for life, experts warn. Shock research has found some contain more sugar in a single pouch than a one-year-old should have in a day. The British Dental Association (BDA) and BBC Panorama commissioned laboratory testing of 18 pouches made by six leading brands Ella's Kitchen, Heinz, Piccolo, Little Freddie, Aldi and Lidl and found over a quarter of the fruit-based pouches contained more sugar by volume than Coca Cola. A number of the savoury pouches often used as meal replacements were also low in iron. Eddie Crouch, chair of the BDA, said: 'Parents of infants are still being marketed products sugarier than Coke. It shouldn't take dentists naming and shaming the worst offenders to bring about needed change. Voluntary action has failed. We need Government to step up and force industry to do the right thing.' Manufacturers responded to the BBC acknowledging the pouches should only be a complementary part of a child's varied weaning diet. The probe found parents of infants as young as four months were marketed pouches that contain the equivalent of up to 184% of the sugar levels of the soft drink. A 330ml can of Coca-Cola in the UK contains 35 grams of sugar. This equates to 10.6 grams of sugar per 100ml. Research shows too much can lead to tooth decay, weight gain and obesity, which increases the risk of developing chronic diseases later in life. It can also impair brain development. The NHS says an infant should have as little sugar as possible and a one-year-old should have no more than 10g of free sugars a day. Free sugars occur when fruit is pureed, which releases sugar from inside fruit cell walls and can be absorbed much more quickly. Experts agree eating fresh fruit is much better. A recent BDA report indicated that 37 of 60 fruit pouches found on supermarket shelves contained more free sugar than this 10g guideline. Separate research by Leeds University assessed 632 baby food products marketed towards babies and toddlers under three years old. It found that more than half of snack products contain added sugars while 41% of main meals were too sweet and had high sugar levels. It concluded 89% of fruit products should carry a 'high sugar' warning label according to international recommendations Researcher Dr Diane Threapleton, of Leeds University, said: Dr Threapleton said: 'Babies and toddlers are in a period of rapid and important growth and good nutrition is needed to support their development. It is therefore critical that commercial products are nutritious options, not laden with sugar. 'Commercial baby foods are often highly pureed. When the main ingredients are fruit, this poses a particular problem because the sugar that would be contained within the food matrix, and therefore slowly digested, becomes readily available in the mouth. This means that pureed baby foods taste very sweet, strengthening preferences for sugary foods throughout life, and teeth are being exposed to high levels of sugar.' The BDA and Panorama investigation commissioned a laboratory approved by the UK Accreditation Service to independently test the nutritional value of a fruit, yoghurt and savoury pouch from each of the six leading brands. Fruit pouches marketed as having "no added sugar" contain about four teaspoons of so-called "free sugars" which are created when fruit is blended. Advertising claims for the pouches included phrases like 'only naturally occurring sugars", 'no added sugars", "nutritionist approved', 'organic', 'high in fibre' and 'containing 1 of your 5 a day'. Manufacturers insisted to the Mirror that parents would be aware such products would be so high in natural sugars. Dr Alison Tedstone, who spent nine years as chief nutritionist to the UK government, told the BBC: "You think as a parent it is a healthy product, and it just isn't. I would hope that ministers, when they think about the baby food industry, recognise that we need to protect our babies. [Businesses] are not going to change unless they are forced to." UK guidance recommends to start introducing solid foods to babies around 6 months of age, alongside breast milk or formula. The BDA said that at the time this research was undertaken market leader Ella's Kitchen and Piccolo were pushing products to 4-month olds contrary to Government guidelines, stating that 'every baby is different'. Piccolo has since dropped its four months marketing. There are more than 250 of these products on the multi-million pound baby pouch market - they have become a staple for many households with babies and children up to the age of two or three. They are convenient and have long shelf lives. Savoury pouches in particular are used by some families as replacements for main meals. Some were found to contain less than 5% of the key nutrient, iron, that an infant needs each day. Baby food pouches are topped off with a spout but both the NHS and the World Health Organization say it should not be used to suck directly from the pouch. It means babies can eat too fast and it can cause dental decay. The Leeds University study found pouches with spouts make up over a third of the baby foods market (38%) and around half did not include a recommendation not to let children drink via the spout. The university's survey of 1,000 parents found that families rely on commercial baby and toddler foods, with 47% using these 'always' or 'most of the time'. Dr Threapleton said: 'We know that many parents and carers rely on these commercial baby foods, and in the UK they are so widely available as to be almost unavoidable.' She added: 'Voluntary guidelines are often ineffective, and so regulation is needed to make sure that change happens. With around 1.7 million children between six and 36 months in the UK, 'baby food' is a massive market. Widespread availability of inappropriate products with poor nutritional quality will negatively impact child growth and development.' Sue Davies, head of food policy at consumer group Which?, said: "It's unacceptable that so many foods and snacks aimed at babies have such poor nutritional quality and high sugar levels. To make matters worse, these items are often misleadingly marketed as being healthy - making it difficult for parents to make informed choices about the best products to buy for their children. "The government urgently needs to update the out-of-date laws for commercial baby foods to ensure there are tighter controls on their composition - including limits on their sugar and salt content - make labelling clear and upfront and clamp down on any misleading marketing claims that suggest products are healthier than they really are." Barbara Crowther, Children's Food Campaign Manager at Sustain, which supported the parent Leeds University polling, said: 'All babies and children have a right to grow up healthy, but overwhelmingly the commercial baby and toddler food industry is misleading parents about the nutritional benefits of their products. Millions of parents regularly use these brands and want to trust them, so they're shocked and angry to learn the truth - that they're not nearly as healthy as they claim to be, and they're not even being regulated properly.' All of the brands investigated by Panorama said their products were intended as a complementary part of a child's varied weaning diet. Market leader Ella's Kitchen insisted 'nothing is more important to us than the safety of little ones' A spokesperson said: 'It is misleading to compare our pouches to fizzy drinks, which are nutritionally empty. Our pouches contain only naturally occurring sugars from whole fruit and veg, alongside fibre, vitamins, and minerals – benefits that fizzy drinks simply don't offer. There are no added sugars or artificial ingredients in any of our products, which are specifically designed to support healthy growth and development in young children. 'What's more, these comparisons are often based on per-100g figures – not on the actual amounts consumed. A fizzy drink is typically consumed in one go and delivers far more sugar overall, without any of the nutritional value. We are confident that parents understand that fruit can be high in natural sugars, while containing vital nutrients.' The company insisted it had already made the decision to change its marketing from four months plus, to six months plus, before being contacted by the BBC. A Kraft Heinz spokesperson said: 'We're proud of the role we play in families' lives and remain committed to the health and well-being of infants and young children. We provide quality products based on nutrition science that meet the nutrient requirements specific to this life stage and adhere to stringent UK / EU regulation. Our convenient, resealable pouches, made from natural ingredients with no added sugars, should be used as a complementary part of a varied weaning diet (6+ months) and are designed to be squeezed into a bowl or straight onto a spoon – as communicated on pack." A spokesman for Aldi said: 'Our fruit and vegetable first taste pouches can be used to introduce children to new flavours and full nutritional information is shown on the packaging. Any sugar in them is naturally occurring and would be the same in a fruit puree made at home. In line with other brands and retailers, we will be moving all of our products to '6 months+' going forward.' Lidl said it offers one of the smallest baby food ranges in the market and aligns with wider industry norms. A spokeswoman said: 'All our pouches meet UK and EU safety and nutritional regulations, and we always look to align where there is guidance available. Our products are all organic and are therefore free from artificial additives, contain no added sugar or salt, and are clearly labelled to support informed choices.' A spokesman for the British Specialist Nutrition Association said: 'Baby pouches can play an important role in offering parents convenient options to allow their little ones to experience new textures and flavours as they grow and develop, in a safe way. Whether homemade, or shop bought, the most important thing is in providing babies with a healthy, nutritious and balanced diet.' A spokesman for the Department for Health and Social Care said: 'Good nutrition is a vital component of our aim to ensure all babies and infants have the best start in life. Existing laws already set nutrition needs for baby foods, and we support enforcement against any product that does not meet these expectations. More widely, we are committed to tackling the childhood obesity crisis and improving children's health through our Plan for Change, and the upcoming junk food advertising ban demonstrates the scale of our ambitions in this area.'
South China Morning Post
20-04-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
England launches HK$110 million campaign to tackle dental health crisis
England recently launched a national campaign to teach children in schools and nurseries how to brush their teeth properly. The nation is dealing with a dental health crisis. In some deprived areas, up to six in 10 children have rotting teeth by the age of five, according to official data. Concern over the state of children's teeth comes amid a population-wide emergency in dental services. People are resorting to 'Victorian-era' solutions, such as pulling out their own teeth. 'One in five five-year-olds have tooth decay in the UK,' Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on X. The scheme is expected to reach 600,000 children aged between three and five years. The British Dental Association (BDA) said around 12 million people are looking for a National Health Service (NHS) dentist providing free care. An increasing number of practitioners are turning their backs on the NHS in favour of private practice. The UK has 49 dentists per 100,000 people. The £11 million (HK$110 million) initiative for supervised tooth brushing will target the country's most deprived areas. Brushing your teeth properly with fluoride toothpaste twice daily for about two minutes helps keep the teeth and mouth healthy (see graphic). The scheme could save the state-run NHS millions by reducing the number of children who need hospital care to have bad teeth extracted. 'Supervised tooth-brushing is a tried and tested policy that will save children from pain and our NHS a fortune,' said BDA chairman Eddie Crouch. Agence France-Presse Questions Why is it important to brush your teeth properly and not just quickly? What else can you do to keep your teeth healthy?
BBC News
13-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
NI dentists 'will have to shrink NHS element to keep lights on'
Dentists will have to reduce the NHS elements of their practice due to the hike in National Insurance contributions (NICs) this month, the Chair of the Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee has Ciara Gallagher said patients "will end up doing without, healthcare inequalities will widen, and patients will suffer" as a currently pay a rate of 13.8% on employees' earnings above a threshold of £9,100 a the Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said this rate would increase to 15% in April 2025, and the threshold would be reduced to £5,000. 'Patients will suffer' Figures from 2022 revealed that 90% of dental practices in Northern Ireland were not accepting new adult patients and 88% were not accepting child Gallagher said that the "primary reason" for this is the cost of delivering care surpasses funding provided by the health department."We're now adding another cost to that, and that is going to make practices unviable," she told BBC's Sunday Politics programme."The difficulty that dentists are going to face is they will have to shrink the NHS element of their practices if they are to keep the lights on, and they will have to increase the private element."And that is going to be patients having to do without care, so the effect in dentistry is going to be rapid, and it is going to be even more difficult for patients to access NHS dental care," Dr Gallagher said."And we know the vast majority of people aren't in a position to pay for private care, and therefore they will end up doing without and healthcare inequalities will widen and patients will suffer." In 2024 it was announced that more than £9m was to be invested in dental services in Northern funding was aimed at bolstering support for dental practices and protecting public access to health service dental health minister also confirmed a 6% pay uplift for dentists for the current financial British Dental Association said the money "falls well short of what's needed" and urged further Gallagher told the programme that she has colleagues who work in areas of very high need and have to make the decision of whether or not to close due to financial constraints."At this point in time [they] have said, 'I may as well close the doors and go and work somewhere else'. "And in this particular practice, it's 6000 patients who will end up without care. "So there is a very real risk that practices in high-need areas are going to close."
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Oral healthcare is dying - it's dead on its feet'
A campaigner who wants everyone to have access to an NHS dentist has said oral healthcare is "dying, it is almost finished, and it's dead on its feet". Mark Jones, from Felixstowe, is the co-founder of Toothless In Suffolk and Toothless In England - campaign groups calling for better dentistry services in the country. The government previously pledged to "reform the dental contract" but the British Dental Association (BDA) believes cuts to dental services will leave a £1.5bn hole in the budget. Mr Jones has demanded urgent change after a meeting he was due to have with care minister Stephen Kinnock was cancelled. The BBC understands alternative dates have been offered. Speaking on BBC Suffolk, he said: "We are bitterly disappointed the minister cancelled late yesterday evening but we are not going anywhere and we will carry on. "That door has been closed but I have asked my MP to lobby hard and take a fresh look at providing mobile clinics for rural and coastal areas. "[Residents who live in those areas] will not have a chance of seeing another dentist on their high street because they are gone for good." Mr Jones started his campaign group in 2021 following an announcement that the last remaining dentist in Leiston would shut. Since then, he has met residents who have taken dentistry into their own hands, including one Bury St Edmunds woman who told him she pulled out 11 of her teeth. "Within days of starting the campaign, we very quickly realised it was a problem across Suffolk, the East of England, and in fact the whole of the country," he said. He said: "We are suffering from a complete absence of NHS dentistry and oral healthcare is dying," he added, "it is almost finished, and it is dead on its feet. "We need focus and commitment rather than gestures." Mr Jones' concerns come after the BDA said the dental budget had remained static at around £3bn since 2010, despite charges increasing in all but two years since. The association said dentist leaders believed the total budget would now have been closer to £4.5bn had government contributions increased at the same rate. Matthew McGregor, chief executive at 38 Degrees, said: "This is further proof the Government needs a proper plan to fix NHS dentistry, and to stump up the investment to make it a reality. "It's time for urgent action from government ministers." A spokesperson for Mr Kinnock said the government was "taking action to fix the NHS dentistry crisis". "We've recently announced 700,000 urgent dentistry appointments, including 69,000 in the East of England," they said. Addressing the cancellation of his meeting with Mr Jones, the spokesperson added: "The minister is meeting a number of dental groups, but sometimes meetings need to be re-arranged due to government business changing. "This was one such meeting - and we were very clear about our commitment to finding a new date quickly." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. 'Dental patients are pulling out their own teeth' Dental campaign group takes message nationwide Six Scottish areas are 'dental deserts' British Dental Association Toothless in England Toothless in Suffolk
