Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 33
33
Deferred
NHSE promotes wider dental team utilisation and skill mix for treatment delivery.
Conclusion
Alongside ensuring that there are sufficient numbers of dentists and that they are equitably spread across the country, NHSE also told us that there is a cultural shift for the public in terms of their relationship with a dental practice, rather than with a set individual providing care. NHSE said that part of its package of changes in 2022 was aimed at tackling the “misapprehension that other members of dental teams cannot deliver a course of treatment”. It claimed that these changes have led to more treatments being delivered by dental therapists though acknowledged that it is still at a relatively low level.97 NHSE also felt that increasing the skills 90 Q 34 91 C&AG’s Report, para 1.19 92 Q 48 93 C&AG’s Report, para 1.15 94 Qq 62–63 95 NHS England, NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, published June 2023 96 DHSC, Proposal for a ‘tie–in’ to NHS dentistry for graduate dentists, published May 2024 97 Qq 88, 89 19 mix across the dental profession had been welcomed in all quarters of the profession though acknowledged that there was more to do to ensure that all parts of the profession feel a part of the NHS.98 98 Qq 89–90 20
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of incentivising NHS dentists and improving retention, stating that work is underway. It will consider improvements to the current system and proposals to encourage greater use of the wider dental team, and will publish a 10 Year Health Plan and a refreshed long-term workforce plan by Summer 2025.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
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.