Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Acknowledged
Publish dental graduate tie-in response and outline plans to attract and retain NHS dental professionals.
Conclusion
Without a workforce sufficiently supported to deliver NHS dental care, there will be no future for NHS dentistry and DHSC and NHSE have not yet done enough to address workforce issues. The total number of dentists delivering some NHS dental care is in decline and NHSE data showed that in March 2024 there were over 5,500 vacancies across the NHS dental profession with many of these going unfilled for over 180 days. Whether the issue is a lack of dental professionals altogether, or a lack of dental professionals willing to take on NHS work, it is clear that there 6 is a need to go further on efforts to support the dental workforce. This is particularly true for deprived, rural and coastal parts of the country where challenges in attracting dentists to work are particularly acute. The dental recovery plan included some measures to address this challenge, such as a consultation for a dental graduate “tie–in” to the NHS, expanding training places and helping patients access care from a variety of dental professionals. The results of the consultation on the dental graduate tie–in is still outstanding, and work by DHSC on the other measures is ongoing. The success of these measures will depend on buy–in from all members of the dental team, and a clear sense from DHSC and NHSE of what the barriers are to attracting professionals to NHS work. recommendation DHSC must: a. publish its response to the consultation on a dental graduate “tie–in”; and b. set out what more the department and NHSE intend to do to address obstacles to attracting dental professionals to carry out NHS work and close the gap between it and private work. This response must include detail on what further work is planned on skills mix and ensuring that dental practices make best use of all members of the wider dental team. This should include an explanation of how all dental professional groups will be consulted on future reforms. 7 1 Contractual reform and the 2024 dental recovery plan Introduction
Government Response Summary
The government states work is underway to reform the dental contract and will consider improvements to incentivize NHS care, including greater use of the wider dental team. They will publish a refreshed long-term workforce plan in Summer 2025, which will consider all dental professionals, and will write to the Committee with an update.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. dentists is a key part of the government’s ambition to reform the dental contract. This work is underway but will take time. Whilst the new dental contract is developed, the government will consider making improvements to the current system to increase access and incentivise the workforce to deliver more NHS care. These proposals could include changes which encourage greater use of the wider dental team to improve the quality of their care. The department will work with the sector to develop these changes, subject to ministerial agreement. The government intends to incentivise NHS dentistry to make it an attractive workplace. To reform the NHS and make it fit for the future, the government has launched a 10 Year Health Plan. The government is listening to and co-designing the plan with the public and health staff. A central part of the 10 Year Health Plan will be the workforce and ensuring that the NHS has the staff it needs to care for patients. This will be published in Summer 2025. The government will publish a refreshed long term workforce plan to deliver a transformed health service over the next decade and treat patients on time again. The government will ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it. This includes consideration of all dental professionals within the dental team. The department intends to write to the Committee shortly with an update on the long-term workforce plan.