Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 31
31
Accepted
NHS dental workforce maldistribution creates shocking regional inequalities in access to care.
Conclusion
It is also clearly the case that NHS dental workforce issues are much more pronounced in some parts of England than others and that this is leading to some shocking regional inequalities in access to dental care.92 At the lowest end of the scale, Somerset ICB delivered 382 courses of treatment per 1,000 people in the region, whereas South Yorkshire ICB was delivering more than double this, at 800 courses of treatment per 1,000 people.93 Neither NHSE or DHSC denied that there are regional inequalities in the provision of NHS dentistry though, for context, NHSE noted that “maldistribution of the dental workforce is a worldwide issue”. DHSC also added that the issue around attracting dentists to work in coastal, rural and remote areas is very applicable to GPs and other types of medical professionals too.94
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges regional inequalities and states it is addressing them 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 to work in areas of most need. Additionally, ICBs are responsible for commissioning tailored local dental programs.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
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). 5.4 The government recognises that different communities will have different needs and that there is a link between deprivation and higher need for dental care. The national contract provides for the breadth of treatments that could be needed by different populations and it also enables flexible commissioning so that ICBs can commission tailored dental programmes and initiatives to meet the specific needs of their local population. ICBs are responsible for commissioning NHS dentistry to meet the needs of the local populations, as well as undertaking oral health needs assessments to identify areas of need.