The British Dental Association (BDA) announced on 4 January that hospital dentists would take part in their first ever industrial action on 12 January, joining their medical colleagues following government failure to address concerns on safe working and unsocial hours.

Credit: ©Francesco Scatena/iStock/Thinkstock

An overwhelming majority of BDA voters had backed moves to take part in industrial action. Plans were postponed to give negotiations at the conciliation service ACAS a chance.

The BDA then wrote to NHS trusts in England to inform them of the following planned industrial action:

  • 8am, Tuesday 12 January to 8am, Wednesday 13 January – emergency care only

  • 8am, Tuesday 26 January to 8am, Thursday 28 January – emergency care only

  • 8am to 5pm, Wednesday 10 February – full withdrawal of labour.

BDA Chair Mick Armstrong said: ‘We wanted to see real progress towards a contract that could work for patients and practitioners. Regrettably the Department of Health has been unwilling to compromise on the fundamentals, on safe working and unsocial hours.

‘Next week will see colleagues take industrial action for the very first time. These hospital dentists form a small but vital part of our NHS, but their dispute matters to every healthcare professional. Dentists and doctors will not stand by and see patients and practitioners put at risk.

‘Industrial action is always a last resort, and one we sincerely hoped could have been avoided. We have been left with little choice but to take this step in the face of government intransigence.’

The industrial action planned for 26 January was later suspended in support of the British Medical Association (BMA) as it sought to rekindle talks to resolve the differences over the proposed new contract.

The BDA hoped to take a group of trainees to the Houses of Parliament in London to lobby their MPs in person on 10 February as BDJ Team goes to press.