Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
Committee heard evidence on NHS dentistry and the dental recovery plan.
Conclusion
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England (NHSE) on NHS dentistry and the dental recovery plan.1
Government Response Summary
The government, noting the committee's work, highlights its commitment to rebuilding NHS dentistry and focuses on prevention by introducing supervised toothbrushing programs, expanding water fluoridation, and efforts to reduce sugar and create a smoke-free generation.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. the main underlying drivers of ill-health and tackling persistent inequalities in health. This includes a shift from sickness to preventing illnesses before they happen. As a first step to improve oral health, the government has introduced a national supervised toothbrushing programme for 3-5-year-olds in the most deprived areas of England and announced the expansion of water fluoridation in the North East of England to reach a further 1.6 million people. The government is also working with all sectors of the food industry to make further progress on reducing levels of sugar in the everyday food and drink people buy and creating a smoke-free generation. This will address some of the main risk factors for poor oral health. The government is committed to rebuilding NHS dentistry in the long-term, including a shift to focus on prevention. million additional courses of treatment in 2024–25.