Government Infrastructure funding
I am writing subsequent to the recent PCA to remind you once again about the opportunity for Scottish Government grants that were made available to support the installation of ventilation and the purchase of speed increasing (red ring) handpieces.
This funding is available to cover expenditure until the end of June this year but we do require an expression of intent on your part prior to the end of March to ensure we can inform SG of the planned spend for this funding that was made available on the financial year 2021-22.
If these monies are not used they will be re-claimed from the health boards by Scottish Government and will be lost to dentistry as a capital scheme. If you intend to make use of one of these grants please inform PCCO at the following email address prior to the 31st March 2022: dental.contract@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
With all my best
Angus Walls, Director
Funding Summary
Dental Ventilation Funding
Practices are now advised to make a notification of interest to their Board before 31 March 2022.
Payment arrangements: On receipt of paid invoices
Deadline for claims 30 June 2022
Dental Handpiece Funding
Practices are now advised to make a notification of interest to their Board before 31 March 2022.
Payment arrangements: On receipt of paid invoices
Deadline for claims 30 June 2022
OTHER (in line with handpiece/ventilation funding)
Practices are now advised to make a notification of interest to their Board before 31 March 2022.
All practices, irrespective of previous ventilation and electric speed adjusting hand piece funding, can apply for funding for other equipment. Notifications of interest should describe your intentions at this stage and do not need to include quotes.
We are now taking the opportunity to allow this funding to be used for a range of equipment. The following is an illustrative list of those items that may be included but is not exhaustive:
- Dental Chair
- Dental Operating Light
- Cuspidor/Spittoon
- Dental Suction
- Dental Compressor
- Dental Xray Unit
The arrangements of the scheme will be the same as for ventilation and electric speed adjusting hand pieces and will be described (by Scottish Government) in due course.
ONE-OFF Dental Sustainability Funding
This funding is being provided to meet the costs of a Legionella Risk Assessment (LRA), for additional hygienist and nurse sessions, and extra out of hours provision. While NHS practices will have the discretion to manage their funding across each of these areas, practices that have presently not carried out a Legionella Risk Assessment should prioritise this.
The payment will apply to all existing NHS practices, with a 2019/20 baseline and currently in receipt of GDPA, and have an average of at least 500 patients per dentist as at 28 February 2022.
This will be paid automatically to Qualifying practices in the March-paid April 2022 payment schedule.
Opt out – nss.psd-dental-payments-covid19@nhs.scot with the subject header ‘OPT OUT’ by 31 March 2022.
All invoices, notes of interest and any queries should be sent to
dental.contract@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk