Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted
Paragraph: 69
Improve routine data collection on NHS dental workforce numbers, activity, and demand.
Recommendation
The Government and NHS England must improve the routine data that is collected on the number of NHS dentists and the wider dental team, and the levels of NHS activity they undertake, as well as data on demand, to assist with workforce planning and identifying gaps in provision. This must be addressed in the forthcoming dental recovery plan. Until such a time, the Government should focus on statistics which show the levels of NHS dental activity.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating that NHS England introduced a new biannual dental workforce survey in October 2023 to improve data collection on the dental team and NHS activity, with initial data expected by early 2024. They also highlight existing monthly publications of NHS dental activity data.
Paragraph Reference:
69
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Accept The Department accepts these recommendations. In October 2023, NHSE introduced a new workforce survey which will be repeated biannually. This data collection will incorporate the whole dental team and will include information on retention and recruitment of staff, NHS capacity and NHS workforce available, including full time equivalent data. The submitted data will be published in order to support ICBs with their commissioning function, with data from the initial survey expected to be available by early 2024. We recognise the need to do more to understand and respond to local needs and to increase transparency and local accountability about performance and service availability. To support this, we have started to publish monthly data on local levels of NHS dental activity and the proportion of UDAs being delivered in different places. These statistics are available on the NHS Business Service Authorities (BSA) Open Data Portal and are summarised at ICB level on the Fingertips public health data platform. We will publish additional materials for patients and the public to raise awareness of personalised recall guidance and help to manage expectations about how often those with good oral health require a check-up.