Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Integrated Care Boards hold delegated responsibility and flexibilities for local dental service commissioning
Conclusion
Responsibility for commissioning dental services was delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) in April 2023.62 Within the national dental contractual framework, ICBs have some flexibilities that NHSE says should help them to tailor services to meet specific population needs.63 This includes the ability to commission additional services, and to support practices that receive lower payments for each UDA they deliver. The NAO’s report outlines how some ICBs have used these flexibilities, for example through raising the minimum UDA value in their area to £30 (rather than the national minimum of £28), or through initiatives such as Greater Manchester’s dental access quality scheme.64
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 ↗