The Scottish Government has accepted the recommendation of the 52nd Report of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) of a 6% increase on the pay element for general dental practitioners, and orthodontic fees.
We have also received confirmation that Public Dental Service dentists and Vocational Trainees will receive a 6% pay award backdated to 1 April 2024. The revised salary scales and full details will be available in due course via the relevant pay circular which will be published separately.
Our position
As in previous years, we again called for the Scottish Government to apply the pay uplift to the full package of remuneration in the Statement of Dental Remuneration (SDR), but they chose not to do this.
Also, the Scottish Government has again ignored the DDRB recommendation to negotiate on the expenses/cost of care element of the uplift directly with the Scottish Dental Practice Committee, despite our calls for these discussions to take place.
The media have already reported on the growth of “dental deserts” across Scotland. There must be a focus on recruitment and retention, otherwise the Scottish Government risk accelerating and fuelling workforce problems.
Details of the uplift
As in previous years, the increase on pay will apply to gross item of service fees and capitation payments. The pay award will be implemented from 1 December 2024 and backdated to 1 April 2024.
The pay award will be included in the November paid December 2024 schedule for claims with an acceptance date on or after 1 December 2024.
Backdated payments will be included in January paid February 2025 schedule for claims with an acceptance date from 1 April 2024 to 30 November 2024.
Updates have been made to:
- Determination IX – Commitment Payments, effective from 1 January 2025
- Determination X – Allowance and Grants for Practice Improvements, specifically Part I, effective from 29 October 2024
- Determination XIII – Recruitment and Retention Allowances, and a non-SDR coordinating change to the Scottish Dental Access Initiative, both effective from 29 October 2024
- Determination XIV – Practice Allowances, from 1 December 2024.
All dentists should familiarise themselves with the amendments to the SDR and the associated Scottish Government Circular concerning Primary Care Administration (PCA), which is PCA (D)(2024)3.
What is next
We will share the associated pay circular once it has been published. Should you have any enquiries arising from the PCA, they should be taken up with your NHS Board.
Extra and Expert members can contact the team for one-to-one advice by calling 020 7935 0875 or by emailing us.