Financial support available for dentists

We are in unprecedented times at the moment, with lots of industries facing financial struggle and uncertainty. As well as the general financial support offered by the government for businesses and the self-employed, such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, CBILS, Bounce Back Loan scheme and Time to Pay service, specific financial support measures have been put in place to help dentists throughout the current situation including:

• Protection of the NHS commitment status
• Protection of the GDPA, rent reimbursement and commitment payments
• Continuing care and capitation payments to continue as normal
• Contractors providing GDS will be paid 80% of their NHS gross item of service income.

There was confusion over how the last point above would be calculated, given there are so many different circumstances. Some more clarity has now been provided, as below.

This will equate to a contractor’s average monthly NHS item of service income in the 19/20 financial year and will crucially include the NHS patient charge element normally paid directly to the practice. The 80% NHS gross item of service top up payment will be determined as follows:

• If the contractor’s income has been stable over 2019/20 financial year, subject to seasonal variation, the 12 month period will be used to calculate the average top up payment.
• If contractors don’t have 12 months earnings in 2019/20, then it will be an average of the payments that are available.
• If contractors have moved practice, it will be an average of earnings in their current practice.

If you require any advice regarding whether you are eligible for any of the financial support available, or want help calculating what you may be entitled to, please contact a member of our EQ Healthcare team or email healthcare@eqaccountants.co.uk.