Many dental practitioners are not sure whether they have a GDS (General Dental Services Contract) or a PDS (
Personal Dental Services Contract).
It concerned the question whether the PCT unlawfully failed to consult the public adequately in order to assess local orthodontic needs before introducing the new
personal dental services agreements (PDSAs) in April 2006 to improve the service.
Although 98% of dentists in Wales signed a new general dental services or
personal dental services contract last year, the Welsh Assembly Government has stated that 74,000 former NHS patients are now without a dentist.
Marcus Woof, clinical director of
personal dental services at the PCT, said having dental checkups at a young age was vital.
"We had already started to see a rise in the number of NHS dental places available thanks to the
Personal Dental Services (PDS) Scheme."
"At first this contract, known as the
Personal Dental Services contract, seemed like a godsend.
Dr Gibbons said practices could apply to join the
Personal Dental Services scheme - already running in parts of England - which drops the system whereby dentists are paid a fee for each routine check-up.
It concerns the question whether the PCT unlawfully failed to consult the public adequately in order to assess local orthodontic needs before introducing the new
personal dental services agreements (PDSAs) in April 2006 to improve the service.
Announcing the achievements of the
Personal Dental Services (PDS) scheme in Wales yesterday, he said patients would soon start to feel the difference as they are able to register with an NHS dentist.
Invitations to tender for the new
personal dental services were sent to 28 national corporate dental providers and to local private and NHS dental practices, as well as the community dental service.