Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Accepted in Part
NHS dental workforce declines, facing over 5,500 unfilled vacancies nationally
Conclusion
The NAO reported that in 2023–24 there were 24,193 dentists providing some NHS dental care in England, a 2% decline on the total since 2019–20.87 NHSE data outlines that there is a large workforce gap that exists in NHS dentistry, with over 5,500 vacancies across the entire dental workforce in March 2024. Many of those vacancies go unfilled for more than half a year.88
Government Response Summary
The government states it is addressing immediate challenges by delivering 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments from April 2025 and implementing the Golden Hello scheme, which has recruited 45 dentists and has 250 posts advertised. It also mentions longer-term plans for contract reform, a 10 Year Health Plan (Summer 2025), and a refreshed long-term workforce plan to be published.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
1.5 Reforming the dental contract needs careful consideration and this will take time. In the meantime, the government is addressing the immediate challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care by delivering 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments per year and recruiting dentists to where they are most needed. Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) began making these extra appointments available from 1 April 2025. To support those areas which have struggled to recruit and retain NHS dentists, the Golden Hello scheme will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years. Since the scheme was introduced 45 dentists have been recruited and are in post, a further 36 dentists are recruited and yet to start in post. 250 posts are currently advertised (as of March 2025). 6.5 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 6.6 Incentivising dentists to carry out more NHS work and improving the retention of NHS dentists is a key part of the government’s ambition to reform the dental contract. This work is underway but will take time. 6.7 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. 6.8 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. 6.9 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.