The British Dental Association (BDA) has responded to warnings from the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sally Davies, of a post-antibiotic apocalypse, calling on government to step in and help front line NHS staff deliver an effective response.
The Association has led the debate on antimicrobial resistance in dentistry in the UK, engaging with the CMO and other leaders across the human and animal health professions, and has expressed concern that huge patient pressures and the lack of funded emergency treatment time will stifle crucial progress.
Dentists in England and Wales have faced significant challenges engaging with this agenda owing to contracts focused exclusively on hitting tough activity measures.
BDA Health and Science Chair Russ Ladwa said:
“This is the century’s defining health challenge, but health professionals are still bearing brunt of patient pressure, lacking both adequate time and resources. Time-consuming treatment will struggle to compete with prescribing until government recognises and responds to the challenges front line staff are facing.”
