Under pressure to consider a PDS+ Agreement ?

"We advise dentists to think very carefully and seek advice before taking on one of these contracts as the dangers of breach are rife, and the consequences of breach may be very damaging to practices" John Milne chair of the General Dental Practice Committee

What was formerly the so called the 'Warburton contract' was published as a final version last November and amongst other intended provisions seeks to create improved access to dentists and in doing so allows PCTs to count the number of new patients; the amount of work that dentists do and the quality and service of treatment to patients as factors of remuneration.

It is certainly the considered view of the majority of advisers that the PDS+ is far from suitable for a basic family dental practice.

There is for instance a considerable amount of bureaucracy and massive administrative burdens; the payment provisions are complex; at the tender stage one cannot know how funding is to be allocated ~ the Key Performance Indicators which form part of the remuneration calculations account for about 30% of the payments; there are indemnity provisions in favour of the PCT; how long is it intended to last ? (5 years or more) in addition the provisions for early termination are regarded by many as extremely draconian, again totally in favour of the PCT and all this is a brief overview.

However the PCT cannot impose the PDS+ on practitioners and on the basis of these very brief observations dentists especially 'normal family dentists' should not enter in to such an Agreement without taking a great deal of time to consider all the provisions and also to obtain sound reliable advice.