Does capitation affect the delivery of oral healthcare and access to services? Evidence from a pilot contact in Northern Ireland

BackgroundIn May 2009, the Northern Ireland government introduced General Dental Services (GDS) contracts based on capitation in dental practices newly set up by a corporate dental provider to promote access to dental care in populations that had previously struggled to secure service provision. Dental service provision forms an important component of general health services for the population, but the implications of health system financing on …