General Dental Practitioners' Committee Chair Lester Ellman issued a statement after his meeting with Health Minister Rosie Winterton to discuss the BDA's concerns over the new NHS dental contract. Dr Ellman's statement warned that the current uncertainty and confusion were set to continue for both dentists and their patients. The Minister had refused Dr Ellman's request to suspend Units of Dental Activity (UDA) targets and for the provision of information about growth funding for expanding practices before 1 April 2006.

An exchange of letters has taken place since the meeting, with Dr Ellman once again pressing for the contractual requirement to deliver UDAs to be suspended while the system is tested.

Meanwhile, BDA representatives have meet with the British Orthodontic Society to discuss the impact on access of the new contractual arrangements for NHS dentistry. Subjects discussed included the experience of orthodontists compared to general dental practitioners, the impact of the changes on those without a working history on which new contracts can be based, and media interest in what the changes will mean for patients.