Yorkshire: NHS facing more pain after dental fees blunder

Cash-stricken NHS trusts in Yorkshire face another blow amid fears a government blunder in calculating controversial dental charges will leave a multi-million black hole in budgets.

A survey by the Yorkshire Post has found health chiefs in the region are predicting losses of up to £11m in revenue from the new dental charges introduced in April.

The huge shortfalls are being felt across England.

If the same pattern were to be repeated nationwide it could leave the NHS facing a dental charge deficit of more than £100m in 2006-07 – on top of an escalating crisis in health service finances which is already leading to big cuts in care.

Last night dentists’ leaders warned the shortfall could be made up in future years by big increases in dental charges.

The total loss in Yorkshire is predicted to be £10.9m, although the figure excludes East Riding.

The biggest predicted deficit is in the Bradford district, where health chiefs estimate they will be £2.4m below target by March.

Sheffield primary care trust (PCT) could run up losses of £2m.

The losses are exacerbating the NHS financial crisis. In latest estimates, NHS trusts in Yorkshire are predicting they will plunge £129m into the red by the end of March.

Scarborough dentist John Renshaw warned there were dangers charges would go up. He said: "If PCTs are not getting this money, then it’s going to hit them big time when they’re already in trouble.

"You can see what will happen. Charges will go up to make up the shortfall and the trouble is it’s already fairly expensive to get treatment on the NHS.

"It will cause further damage to services in the future as it will get more difficult to get affordable care under the NHS."