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Dentistry a “must support” project? I think not and what it will mean for the dental profession
NASDA member John Minford analyses Gordon Brown’s pre-budget statement and what it will mean for the dental profession.
Gordon Brown has two quite separate problems. Growth of the overall UK economy is little more than half of his projections. He does not therefore have the taxation income that he had expected - perhaps not unlike some of the verbal PDS agreements we have seen this last year!
Mr Brown has also overspent on public services. This reduced income and increased expenditure has combined to create a government “overdraft” which is almost twice the size of his predictions.
Just as in your own Practice steps should be taken to reduce the overdraft, the Chancellor must increase income, meaning more tax…..and expenditure must be reduced. There are very visible and political spending commitments already made, such as education and hospitals, so the squeeze must come in areas where there is little political fallout.
I fear that dentistry may not be high up on the Chancellor’s list of “must support” projects. The concern must be that the resources made available to PCTs for dentistry and the guidance given by the Department of Health will leave the profession wanting, and individual practices adrift with undependable and insecure financial planning. Again.
NASDA includes more than 30 accountancy firms which specialise in dentistry, including John Minford Associates, which is based in York.