Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Accepted
Paragraph: 54
Patient registration under capitation-based contract will improve dental access
Conclusion
We believe patient registration under a reformed capitation-based contract will better enable those patients who currently can’t access a dentist to be able to do so.
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts, detailing existing and planned measures like a 5.13% uplift to NHS dental contracts and guidance for Integrated Care Boards on 'Flexible Commissioning' for local initiatives. They are also exploring tie-ins for new dentists and developing a career pathway including apprenticeships through the Advancing Dental Care review.
Paragraph Reference:
54
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Partially accept The Department partially accepts this recommendation. While we want to encourage all professionals to commit more of their time to NHS work, and to work in areas of the country with low provision of NHS dental care, we do not plan to introduce all of the specific incentives listed in the Committee’s recommendation. Our package of dental system improvements announced in July 2022 means dentists are more fairly rewarded for the NHS care that they deliver. The Government has also accepted and implemented the recommendations of the Independent Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) for 2023/24. Following consultation with the sector, the Government implemented the DDRB recommendation through a 5.13% uplift to the value of NHS dental contracts (net of 6% for pay elements and 3.23% for non- pay (expenses) elements). In October 2023 NHSE published guidance for ICBs on ‘Flexible Commissioning’ to provide ICBs with an outline of the legal requirements of the national dental contractual framework and to highlight the key considerations associated with procuring additional and further services. We have already seen examples of ICBs using their flexible commissioning powers to implement local initiatives such as recruitment and retention incentives, and remuneration incentives. On a national scale, as signalled in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan earlier this year, the NHS and the Government will also explore incentives and measures such as a tie-in, to encourage dentists to spend a greater proportion of their time delivering NHS dental care in the years following the completion of undergraduate training. We agree with the Committee that a sustainable and supportive careers framework for NHS dentistry professionals is important. The Department has been working with NHSE to implement the Advancing Dental Care review and to develop a career pathway to support lifelong learning. This includes the use of the apprenticeship model offer to diversify and grow a multi-professional dental workforce that responds to skills needed in England, as well as helping to advance careers by enabling more staff to achieve enhanced and advanced practice roles.