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Select Committee · Health and Social Care Committee

NHS dentistry

Status: Closed Opened: 7 Dec 2022 Closed: 30 May 2024 15 recommendations 11 conclusions 1 report

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 look at what incentives can … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Ninth Report - NHS dentistry HC 964 14 Jul 2023 26 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
5 Recommendation Ninth Report - NHS dentistry Acknowledged

Permanently apply ringfence to prevent diversion of NHS dental funding by ICBs

We welcome the fact that to try and address the underspend, NHS England is applying a ringfence for 2023/24, to ensure that no ICB can divert funding away from NHS dentistry. We recommend that this ringfence applies permanently, and NHS England puts in place transparent scrutiny to ensure compliance. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation, stating they need to build on existing contractual changes but do not commit to making the dental funding ringfence permanent. They are working on further reforms to the 2006 contract in discussion with the profession.
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Department of Health and Social Care
19 Conclusion Ninth Report - NHS dentistry Acknowledged

Absence of dental contract in Workforce Plan reflects lack of priority for reform.

We are concerned that the absence of explicit mention of the dental contract in the Long Term Workforce Plan reflects the lack of priority given by the Government and NHS England to contract reform. We believe it indicates a lack of recognition of the urgent need for reform before any … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledged the committee's concern that the absence of explicit mention of the dental contract in the Long Term Workforce Plan reflects the lack of priority given by the Government and NHS England to contract reform.
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Department of Health and Social Care
25 Conclusion Ninth Report - NHS dentistry Acknowledged

ICBs' delegated responsibility for dental services offers opportunities for local improvement.

ICBs have been delegated responsibility for commissioning dental services by NHS England. They offer an opportunity to improve access locally, better integrate services around patients and address inequalities.

Government response AI summary
The Government acknowledges that the transfer of responsibility for commissioning NHS dentistry services to ICBs provides a greater opportunity to tailor services around the needs of the local population.
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Department of Health and Social Care

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
19 Mar 2024 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 View ↗
25 Apr 2023 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 View ↗
21 Mar 2023 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 View ↗

Who gave evidence

17 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Shawn Charlwood · Chair British Dental Association (BDA) General Dental Practice Committee 2
Chris McCann · Director of Communications, Insight and Campaigns Healthwatch England 1
Dr Abhi Pal · President College of General Dentisty 1
Dr Amanda Doyle · National Director for Primary Care and Community … NHS England 1
Dr Amanda Doyle OBE · National Director for Primary Care and Community … NHS England 1
Dr Sandra White · Clinical Director Association of Dental Groups 1
Ian Brack · Chief Executive and Registrar General Dental Council 1
Jason Wong MBE · Interim Chief Dental Officer NHS England 1
Jo York · Managing Director Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board 1
Malcolm Smith · Chair, HEE's Advancing Dental Care Review and Den… Health Education England North East 1
Neil O'Brien MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Primar… Department of Health and Social Care 1
Professor Nick Barker · General Dental Practitioner and Professor of Oral… University of Essex 1
Rebecca Curtayne · External Affairs Manager Healthwatch England 1
Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister … Department of Health and Social Care 1
Sara Hurley · Chief Dental Officer NHS England 1
Sarah Fletcher · Chief Executive Officer Healthwatch Lincolnshire 1
Thea Stein · Chief Executive Nuffield Trust 1

Correspondence

3 letters
DateDirectionTitle
22 May 2024 — Parliamentary Under Secretary of Sate for Public Health on plans to recover and…
18 Oct 2023 — Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of Sate for primary Care …
18 Oct 2023 — Correspondence from the Chair to the Secretary of State, Steve Barclay MP, on t…