Options For Change

Options For Change will mean great changes for all dentists working within the NHS from October 2005, and probably even more changes from October 2008.

At Morris & Co, we have been following the development of Options For Change, from the publication of the original document via the Health & Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003, through to the guidance currently being issued by the NHS Modernisation Agency and the Department of Health. From the very beginning we have acted for a number of the original PDS practices, and we act for quite a number of the practices within the various different field sites. We also act for quite a number of practices within PCTs which are ahead of the game, and are offering Options For Change/PDS style funding to their dentists before October 2005. Because our clients are spread nationwide, we think that we probably have at least one client in half of the PCTs in the country.

We talk regularly to all of these clients, as well as to a number of Dental Advisers to PCTs throughout the country, and we therefore consider ourselves extremely well placed to offer advice to clients, and non-clients, about the implications of Options For Change for their individual practices.

We have already assisted quite a number of practices in their negotiations with their PCT, and have been successful on a number of occasions in helping practices obtain significantly better financial arrangements than had been originally offered by their PCT.

Associates

We also speak regularly to the many associates that we act for who are being offered salaries (or more correctly "fixed price contracts") by their principals as a result of their practices being one of the original PDS practices, in a field site, or indeed in readiness for October 2005. We are currently spending a lot of time advising associates on how to ensure that they get a reasonable deal from their principals once the practices are working under their new contract.

If you would like advice from us about the impact of Options For Change, and how we can help you then please telephone Nick Ledingham on 01244 328301 or email him at nol@moco.co.uk.