Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Accepted in Part
Ensure full consultation with professionals on potential graduate NHS dental tie-in policy.
Recommendation
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 a policy, although its success depends on fundamental contract reform, and should be accompanied with a careers framework. (Paragraph 92) Integrated Care Systems
Government Response Summary
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.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
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.