Dentists will be able to fine patients for non-attendance of dental appointments under new plans from the Conservative Party. The plans for charges around healthcare are outlined in their Reform Plan for the NHS.
In the party's draft manifesto David Cameron states, 'We will introduce a new dentistry contract that will tie newly qualified dentists into the NHS for five years, allow dentists to fine patients who consistently miss appointments and stop paying dentists to carry out unnecessary appointments. These changes will allow us to give one million more people access to an NHS dentist and give every five-year-old a dental check up.'
The announcement marked the start of 2010's election campaigning. The Conservative leader also pledged to tackle hospital infection, improve maternity care and create an independent NHS board.
