Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Conflicting data on new patient numbers and high cost of the New Patient Premium
Conclusion
NHSE did tell us that “roughly 2.7 million new patients” had come through during the year so far, which they claimed was “on track with what we would have expected” based on last year.44 However, DHSC and NHSE published information in February 2025, shortly after our evidence session in the same month, that stated there was a 3% decrease in the number of new patients accessing NHS dentists since the introduction of the NPP, and that the NPP has cost £88 million.45
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 10 July 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗