NHS dentistry

Health and Social Care Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 7 Dec 2022 Closed: 30 May 2024 Parliament page
The Health and Social Care Committee has launched an inquiry into dentistry following a survey that showed 90% of practices across the UK were not accepting new adult NHS patients. MPs will consider to what extent the current NHS dental contract disincentivises dentists from taking on new patients. They will … Read more
15 Recommendations
11 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
3 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 11 events
22 May
2024
Correspondence
19 Mar
2024
Oral evidence
19 Mar
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
13 Dec
2023
Report published
18 Oct
2023
Correspondence
18 Oct
2023
Correspondence
14 Jul
2023
Report published
25 Apr
2023
Oral evidence
25 Apr
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
21 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
21 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
19 Mar 2024
View on parliament.uk
Dr Amanda Doyle OBE · NHS England Jason Wong MBE · NHS England Rebecca Curtayne · Healthwatch England Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP · Department of Health and Social Care Shawn Charlwood · British Dental Association (BDA) General Dental Practice Committee Thea Stein · Nuffield Trust
25 Apr 2023
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Chris McCann · Healthwatch England Dr Amanda Doyle · NHS England Jo York · Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board Neil O'Brien MP · Department of Health and Social Care Sarah Fletcher · Healthwatch Lincolnshire Sara Hurley · NHS England
21 Mar 2023
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Dr Abhi Pal · College of General Dentisty Dr Sandra White · Association of Dental Groups Ian Brack · General Dental Council Malcolm Smith · Health Education England North East Professor Nick Barker · University of Essex Shawn Charlwood · British Dental Association (BDA) General Dental Practice Committee
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Ninth Report - NHS dentistry HC 964 14 Jul 2023 26 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
Clear
7 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Ninth Report - NHS dentistry
Urgently implement fundamental dental contract reform to address access crisis
Fundamental reform of the dental contract is essential and must be urgently implemented, not only to address the crisis of access in the short-term, but to ensure a more sustainable, equitable and prevention-focussed system for the future. We are concerned … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation for fundamental reform, committing to build on existing contractual changes and work on further reforms to the 2006 contract, though they rejected a previously piloted capitation model due to its identified shortcomings.
Department of Health and Social Care
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8 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Ninth Report - NHS dentistry
Urgently implement fundamentally reformed dental contract, moving away from UDA system
We welcome the Government’s recognition of the need for dental contract reform. The Department and NHS England must urgently implement a fundamentally reformed dental contract, characterised by a move away from the current UDA system, in favour of a system … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation for urgent reform, stating they will build on existing contractual changes and work on further reforms to the 2006 contract, but reject moving to a weighted capitation model based on previous pilot evaluations.
Department of Health and Social Care
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14 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Ninth Report - NHS dentistry
Introduce urgent incentives to attract and retain dentists for NHS work.
Any contract reform now will almost certainly be too late for those dentists who have already left the NHS or are considering doing so in the near future. The Government must urgently introduce incentives to attract and retain dentists to … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation, rejecting some specific incentives listed but committing to explore other measures, such as a tie-in for new graduates. It also agrees with the importance of a sustainable careers framework and is working with NHSE to develop a career pathway for dental professionals.
Department of Health and Social Care
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20 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Ninth Report - NHS dentistry
Ensure full consultation with professionals on potential graduate NHS dental tie-in policy.
Given the varying views expressed regarding a tie-in for new graduates into NHS dentistry, we urge NHS England and the Government to ensure full consultation with professionals and representative bodies, as they seek to explore the potential merit of such … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, committing to explore incentives like a tie-in as part of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and agreeing on the importance of a careers framework. They are working with NHSE to develop a career pathway and have implemented other dental system improvements and remuneration uplifts.
Department of Health and Social Care
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21 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Ninth Report - NHS dentistry
Ensure dental profession representation on Integrated Care Boards for informed decision-making.
The dental profession should be represented on Integrated Care Boards to ensure they have the necessary expertise to inform decision-making around contracting and flexible commissioning. This should include wider engagement with the profession locally, for example through Local Dental Committees … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, stating that while they have not changed their stance on mandatory representation, existing legislation allows ICBs the discretion to appoint additional members, including dental professionals, where locally deemed necessary. DHSC will continue to work with NHS England and ICBs to ensure current arrangements are effective.
Department of Health and Social Care
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22 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Ninth Report - NHS dentistry
Gather and review ICB membership data, assessing representation and policy effectiveness for NHS dental services.
We contest the Department’s rejection of the recommendation in our ‘Integrated Care Systems: autonomy and accountability’ report, and reiterate that they should centrally gather information relating to the membership of ICBs, including the specific role of members and their area … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, stating that NHS England has published guidance on effective clinical leadership and ICBs are asked to ensure diverse professional integration. However, the government has not changed its stance on centrally gathering and reviewing ICB membership information itself, noting that ICBs already publish this data and can appoint additional members as needed.
Department of Health and Social Care
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26 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Ninth Report - NHS dentistry
Mandate all ICBs to complete oral health needs assessments by July 2024 with NHS England support.
By the end of July 2024, every ICB should have undertaken an oral health needs assessment, in consultation with service users, patient organisations and the profession. NHS England should provide support to ICBs to undertake this, including sharing examples of … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation, acknowledging that not all ICBs may complete oral health needs assessments by the July 2024 deadline due to varying maturity. However, it confirms that all ICBs are working towards having these assessments in place with support from NHS England.
Department of Health and Social Care
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Government Response AI assessment · 26 of 15 classified
Accepted 13
Accepted in Part 7
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 2
Rejected 1
Total 15 recs + 11 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
22 May 2024 Parliamentary Under Secretary of Sate for Public Health on plans to recover and reform NHS Dentistry 10.05.24
Parliament page
18 Oct 2023 Correspondence from the Chair to the Secretary of State, Steve Barclay MP, on the Department's response to the NHS Dentistry report 20.09.23
Parliament page
18 Oct 2023 Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of Sate for primary Care and Public Health,Neil O'Brien MP, regarding the Committee's dentistry report 26.09.23
Parliament page