NHS Dentists 2026-02-05

Opened the debate

I am grateful for the opportunity to draw attention to the severe strain on NHS dentistry, which affects millions of British people. The issue is that fewer practices are offering NHS appointments, leading to growing backlogs and patients turning up at GP or A&E with dental pain and infection. NHS dentists feel underfunded and many have reduced their NHS work or left the profession due to inflexible contracts and low pay. This results in a human cost for elderly people, children needing urgent care, and low-income individuals unable to afford private treatment. The MP calls for realistic funding, long-term settlement, reform of dental contract prioritising prevention, workforce planning based on real need, and training pathways supporting NHS services.

Government Response

I congratulate the hon. Member for North Down on securing this important debate and thank him for raising awareness about the challenges facing dental patients in his constituency and across the United Kingdom. The Government inherited a dental system in crisis, with poor oral health evident among adults. We are committed to transforming NHS dentistry so that it is fit for future generations. Over the past 18 months, we have made significant strides by reducing the NHS dentistry underspend from £392 million to just £36 million and making extra urgent dental appointments available across the country. We are also working with the British Dental Association to reform the dental contract and incentivising dentists through a “golden hello” scheme in underserved areas. Starting from 1 April, we will introduce provisions in the dental contract to embed urgent dental care appointments, increasing payments for such care from £42 on average to £75 per unit of dental activity. We are also committed to publishing a 10-year workforce plan and making it mandatory for newly qualified dentists to practise in the NHS for at least three years. The University of East Anglia’s accreditation as a new dental school is supported, and we will be sending advice to the Office for Students regarding the allocation of places based on regional need. We are also looking to increase the supply of overseas qualified dentists and expand water fluoridation in the north-east of England. While important progress has been made, there is still much more to do.