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NHS Dentistry: Recovery and Reform
07 February 2024
Lead MP
Victoria Atkins
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
NHSTaxationEmploymentMental HealthChildren & Families
Other Contributors: 51
At a Glance
Victoria Atkins raised concerns about nhs dentistry: recovery and reform in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Care, Victoria Atkins, began by expressing her best wishes to His Majesty the King regarding his cancer diagnosis. She then outlined a plan to recover and reform NHS dentistry in England following a significant drop in appointments during the pandemic. The minister highlighted that between 2020 and 2022, over 7 million patients did not receive dental care due to the pandemic. However, the department has taken decisive action by reforming the dental contract and encouraging practices to update their NHS website regularly, leading to an increase of more than 1 million people seeing an NHS dentist in the previous year compared to the year before.
The plan focuses on three key pillars: helping patients access care, growing and upskilling the workforce, and prioritising prevention. To help patients access care, the government is offering dentists two new payments for every check-up performed on NHS patients not seen in the past two years (£15) and for every new NHS patient treated (£50). The minimum payment for delivering NHS treatments will also be increased to support practices with lower dental activity rates. Additionally, up to 240 dentists will receive golden hello payments of up to £20,000 if they commit to working in rural or remote areas for at least three years.
Dental vans staffed by NHS dentists will offer check-ups and simple treatments like fillings to more isolated areas. This model has already been successfully implemented in Cornwall, treating over 100 fishermen and their families. The government plans to roll out up to 15 dental vans across various counties.
To grow the workforce, the number of training places for dentists will increase by 40% by 2031, with similar increases for dental hygienists and therapists. The minister announced a consultation on tying graduates into NHS work, utilising dental professionals' full skills, and recruiting more international dentists to the NHS. For prevention, family hubs will offer expert advice to parents-to-be on looking after their baby's teeth and gums, while mobile dental teams will apply fluoride varnish to over 165,000 reception-age children’s teeth in areas with a shortage of NHS dentists.
The government also plans to consult on expanding water fluoridation across the north-east, benefiting an additional 1.6 million people. The minister concluded by stressing that these measures will make dental care faster and fairer for patients and staff.
Philip Hollobone
Con
Kettering
Question
The Minister mentioned golden hellos for up to 240 dentists in order to attract them to remote areas. Is that an appropriate number given the scale of the problem, or should there be more such incentives?
Minister reply
The £15 million allocated towards this is intended to cover a significant number of dentists across rural and isolated communities. The golden hello scheme will support up to 240 dentists in these areas for three years, which represents the best use of available resources while also ensuring that more patients can access dental care.
Diane Abbott
Lab
Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Question
The Minister’s plan includes a 40% increase in training places for dentists, but is this enough to address the current crisis? Will the Government also be investing in infrastructure to support these additional trainees?
Minister reply
This increase will help meet demand and reduce waiting times. The Department has identified that increasing training capacity by 40% by 2031 will significantly contribute to addressing the workforce shortage. We are currently assessing infrastructure needs, and this will be addressed as part of our long-term strategy.
Wes Streeting
Lab
Ilford North
Question
I wholeheartedly associate myself and my party with the Secretary of State’s remarks on sending our best wishes to His Majesty the King. I thank the Health and Social Care Secretary for accidentally e-mailing me her entire plan yesterday. After 14 years of Conservative Government, NHS dentistry is in decay. Eight in 10 dentists are not taking on new patients, and one in ten people has been forced to attempt DIY dentistry due to lack of access.
Minister reply
The minister thanked the hon. Gentleman for his kind words but pointed out that their plan will provide more than three times the number of appointments proposed by Labour (2.5 million versus 700,000). She also highlighted their proposals for golden hellos and training dentists.
Question
The House enjoyed the words of the Opposition spokesman. In West Sussex, we want to replicate parts of London where dentists have a sign saying, “New NHS patients welcome”. Has the Secretary of State been working with the British Dental Association and the General Dental Council to bring forward registrations?
Minister reply
We are introducing a new patient premium—a bonus for new patients—to incentivise people into NHS practice. Dentists can already work up to 104% of their contract, but this plan aims to encourage dentists to use the full capacity available.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Question
The Health and Social Care Committee took months gathering evidence for a recovery plan which dentists wanted. However, the Secretary of State has failed to mention reforming the NHS dental contract. Why did she not adopt our plan?
Minister reply
We are focusing on immediate help through measures like the new patient premium and increased price for units of dental activity, while reform remains part of our agenda.
Question
I welcome the plan. The dental Minister has been invited to come before us to discuss it. How does she plan to entice professionals into returning to NHS dentistry? So many have left, and that is key.
Minister reply
The patient premium will enable dentists to turn their signs from “closed” to “open” for NHS patients, encouraging them back into practice.
Daisy Cooper
Lib Dem
St Albans
Question
It is estimated that more than 12 million people are waiting for dental treatment, but the Government’s announcement says it will help just 1 million. The underspend last year was £400 million and expected to be the same this year, yet only £200 million has been announced. This plan is a drop in the ocean.
Minister reply
The recovery plan offers 2.5 million more appointments, aims for long-term prevention of tooth decay in children, and includes increasing training places by 40% by 2031.
Question
Dentistry in England is a seller’s market with an estimated 5,000 dentist vacancies. When I arrived here with my dental degree decades ago, the General Dental Council welcomed graduates immediately. Now they require overseas dentists to pay and sit an exam on a waiting list. Will the Government discuss this issue with the GDC?
Minister reply
The minister recognises the expertise of her hon. Friend and agrees that the GDC plays an important role in ensuring international dentists are registered quickly. She looks forward to discussing this matter further.
Judith Cummins
Lab
Bradford South
Question
I welcome much in the plan, which mirrors many of my ideas over the years, and indeed much in Labour’s plan. However, on access, the Government claim that the recovery plan will deliver care for up to 2.5 million people, but Government data shows that 12 million people in England have unmet dentistry needs, which leaves about 9.5 million people without an NHS dentist.
Minister reply
We have very much tried to ensure that dentists who already hold NHS contracts will keep them and keep working them. That is why we have fallen upon the new patient premium to make it more in their financial interests to take on new patients.
Question
A number of NHS dentists across Erewash have recently retired, leaving a cohort of my constituents without access to NHS dentistry. Unfortunately, practices are finding it really difficult to recruit replacements for the retirees.
Minister reply
May I thank my hon. Friend for all the work she did in the Department and has done on this subject? We are taking a long-term view with training dentists.
Birmingham Erdington
Question
The £200 million pledged today is less than half last year’s record-breaking underspend. The plan says that any underspends will be ringfenced for dentistry.
Minister reply
We are trying to encourage dentists who do not use their full contract to do so, because that in itself will bring in more patients.
Question
Wokingham has a fast-growing population based on building a lot of new homes. So as the Secretary of State rolls out her new plans, will she also ensure that there are incentives to provide dental services on the NHS in areas where a population is moving in and needs them?
Minister reply
Indeed, that is exactly the sort of discussion I am having with my right hon. Friend the Levelling Up Secretary.
Question
I do not believe that what the Secretary of State has described will deal with the complexity of dental problems out there.
Minister reply
If a constituent contacts her in future with that level of discomfort and pain, she should advise that constituent to contact 111 and, if necessary, go to accident and emergency.
John Hayes
Con
South Holland and The Deepings
Question
In congratulating my right hon. Friend—my personal friend—on this welcome, excellent statement, may I ask her to forgive the ferocity with which my right hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough (Sir Edward Leigh) and I made the case for NHS dentistry when we met her recently?
Minister reply
I give my very sincere thanks to my right hon. Friend. The House can imagine the advocacy I have received from both him and my right hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough.
Question
The Secretary of State will be aware that the NHS dentistry crisis has been 14 years in the making.
Minister reply
The advice and guidance to dentists will be going out today, while the new patient premium that I have told the House about will come in from March—it is weeks away.
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for an excellent statement and an excellent plan.
Minister reply
Again, I hear the observations on the General Dental Council, and will ensure that the GDC hears them as well.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Question
Today’s statement by the Health Secretary will have been listened to with great interest by my constituents in Edinburgh West.
Minister reply
This is a devolved area—as it is in Wales—and is therefore a matter for the Scottish National party. I assume the hon. Lady will continue her usual advocacy on behalf of her constituents.
Neil O'Brien
Con
Harborough, Oadby and Wigston
Question
I really welcome this plan; I welcome the extra £200 million, the new patient bonus, the measures to get dentists into areas that do not have them and the minimum UDA.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Neil O’Brien) has been part of the united work across Government to deliver these plans.
Barry Sheerman
Lab
Huddersfield
Question
The hon. Gentleman urges the Secretary of State to speak to dentists like Phil Lucitt and address the crisis in Huddersfield, as well as across the country.
Minister reply
The Minister reassures that her officials regularly engage with dentists and cites a recent meeting with a dental manager in Westminster.
Peter Gibson
Con
Darlington
Question
My right hon. Friend welcomes the dental recovery plan for Darlington, but seeks advice on getting his integrated care board to resume commissioning at Firthmoor community centre and encourages expanding dental training places at Teesside University.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State acknowledges the powerhouse role of Tees Valley in growth industries and notes that ICBs are expected to deliver the plan, as it is a joint document with NHS England.
Mohammad Yasin
Lab
Bedford
Question
The hon. Gentleman highlights the dental crisis in Bedford and Kempston, stating that 14 years of Conservative Government have resulted in underspending and neglect.
Minister reply
The Minister responds with a brief reference to the plan delivering an additional 2.5 million appointments.
Heather Wheeler
Con
South Derbyshire
Question
My right hon. Friend expresses gratitude for the dental recovery plan and seeks to ensure more free NHS dentistry in South Derbyshire.
Minister reply
The Minister compliments her friend's enthusiasm and suggests that she herself may attract dentists with her personality.
Diana R. Johnson
Lab
Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Question
A constituent of the right hon. Lady is on an eight-year wait for NHS dental registration; she urges a meeting to discuss establishing a dental school at Hull York Medical School.
Minister reply
The Minister agrees that training should focus where it is most needed and offers to arrange a meeting with the relevant Minister.
Peter Aldous
Con
Barrhead
Question
My right hon. Friend welcomes the recovery plan, urging negotiations for the NHS dentistry contract and support for a new treatment and training facility at University of Suffolk.
Minister reply
The Minister emphasises the long-term workforce training focus in the plan and the importance of recruiting internationally trained dentists.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham
Question
The hon. Gentleman criticises Tory failure with 7.6 million people on NHS waiting lists; he questions why a recovery plan is needed after 14 years of Conservative rule.
Minister reply
The Minister rebuts the criticism by focusing on pandemic-related issues and challenges Labour's argumentative approach.
Andrew Lewer
Con
South Northamptonshire
Question
My right hon. Friend welcomes the dental van roll-out in Northamptonshire but seeks clarity on whether vans will go to suburban areas as well.
Minister reply
The Minister clarifies that criteria for van coverage include dental need and distance from an NHS dental practice.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East
Question
Last year, about half of the hon. Lady’s constituents could access dental services; she asks what proportion can now hope for access within six months.
Minister reply
The Minister outlines immediate-term measures such as new patient premium, increased UDA value, and golden hellos to address underserved areas.
Paul Bristow
Con
Peterborough
Question
My right hon. Friend plans a brand-new NHS dentistry practice in Peterborough; he seeks a meeting to discuss his local delivery plan.
Minister reply
The Minister expresses delight at meeting the MP to discuss his dental clinic plans, aligning with national recovery measures.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Question
The hon. Gentleman describes the catastrophic situation in west Wales due to recent reforms by the Welsh Government; he asks about new money and Barnett consequentials.
Minister reply
The Minister counters criticism of Labour-run Wales with £200 million added to existing NHS dentistry spending in England.
Siobhan Baillie
Con
Stroud
Question
My right hon. Friend welcomes the Government’s plans and praises Gloucestershire ICB for addressing post-pandemic provision; she seeks continued focus on children's appointments.
Minister reply
The Minister emphasises working with parents, supporting those who struggle, and setting expectations for ICBs to deliver the plan.
Justin Madders
Lab
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Question
Welcomed the long overdue focus on dental access but pointed out that 240 golden hellos would be inadequate. Asked about location allocation of these incentives, particularly for areas like Ellesmere Port.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the point regarding location and mentioned strict criteria for deploying dental vans. Emphasised the new patient premium as a lever to unlock places for new patients across England.
Martin Vickers
Con
Brigg and Immingham
Question
Welcomed initiatives to improve services in coastal and rural areas, specifically requested guarantees that greater Lincolnshire would benefit from the proposals.
Minister reply
Confirmed that the new patient premium applies across England, allowing people to move to dental practices offering needed services.
Question
Asked whether the £200 million additional funding was redirected from other NHS parts or new money from Treasury.
Minister reply
Clarified that it is an additional amount of £200 million, not diverted from elsewhere.
Jeremy Wright
Con
Kenilworth and Southam
Question
Welcomed the announcement but expressed concern about extra administration obstructing dentists' effective delivery. Asked for assurance that funds would be easily accessible.
Minister reply
Emphasised commitment to making NHS faster, simpler, and fairer without bureaucracy.
Hitchin
Question
Welcomed progress but stressed the need for fundamental reform of the dental contract. Questioned why such reforms were not committed to by the Government.
Minister reply
Acknowledged commitment to reforming the dental contract and delivering immediate services.
Question
Thanked the Minister for securing vital plans, expressed eagerness for dental van presence in her constituency. Asked if she could help promote new dentistry opportunities.
Minister reply
Confirmed willingness to assist and ensure constituents are aware of new services.
Imran Hussain
Lab
Bradford East
Question
Critiqued the Government's approach over 14 years, stating it was too little too late. Suggested the plan was Labour’s idea.
Minister reply
Rebutted by pointing out differences between Labour’s and their fully funded plans.
Question
Welcomed the recovery plan but requested confirmation that quicker access to NHS dentists would be a cornerstone, along with proper incentivisation.
Minister reply
Confirmed aims of quicker access and incentives for absorbing patients. Mentioned roll-out starting in weeks.
Richard Burgon
Lab
Leeds East
Question
Cited testimonies from Healthwatch Leeds about lack of NHS dentists and impact on well-being.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the move to introduce dental vans has been welcomed by Healthwatch.
Question
Asked when constituents would see benefits in terms of increased access to NHS dentistry.
Minister reply
Confirmed immediate benefits starting with the new patient premium coming into force on 1 March, though other aspects may take longer.
Richard Foord
Lib Dem
Honiton and Sidmouth
Question
Noted vacancies in Devon and Cornwall and asked for support for qualified European dentists to practice in the UK.
Minister reply
Confirmed efforts are being made to facilitate recognition and registration of overseas-trained dentists.
Julian Sturdy
Con
York Outer
Question
Like many others, I very much welcome the recovery plan. May I press her on integrated care boards? Will she ensure they are held to account and face increased monitoring for dentistry expenditure?
Minister reply
We are exploring ways to make the expenditure of the dentistry budget more transparent because it is right for ICBs to reflect the needs of local residents and deliver services under this dental recovery plan.
Tom Hunt
Lab
Ipswich
Question
Welcoming interventions, particularly about international dentists. Will we see rapid consultation periods and can the Secretary visit Ipswich’s new dental centre to hear for a dental school?
Minister reply
While I receive many invitations, I will do everything possible to meet him as his passion shines through. The GDC needs to work with us on more efficient registration processes.
Andy Carter
Lab
Warrington South
Question
Welcoming the plan, how will changes announced today incentivise dentists to return to providing NHS services in Warrington?
Minister reply
The new patient premium and work on UDA are two levers we can use. We also aim to train 40% more dentists by 2031 as part of a long-term vision.
Anna Firth
Con
Southend West
Question
Welcoming the plan, will Southend and Leigh residents get either a van or better dental care within months?
Minister reply
Dental surgeries operating under NHS contracts will benefit from new patient premiums and increased UDA. We are applying strict criteria for dental vans but welcome enthusiasm.
Lincoln
Question
Thanking my right hon. Friend, can she give advice to patients registered with an NHS dentist who have not been seen in the last two years?
Minister reply
New patient premiums will come into force and patients can already look at the NHS website for practices accepting new patients.
Ben Everitt
Con
North East Cambridgeshire
Question
Welcoming more dentists, appointments, incentives for NHS work, and focus on underserved areas in Milton Keynes. Will mobile dentist vans serve hard-to-reach rural areas?
Minister reply
We are having to apply strict criteria but dental vans aim to revitalise underserved parts of the country that do not have NHS practices within a reasonable distance.
Matt Vickers
Con
Stockton South
Question
Welcoming investment and commitment, will the Government tackle access issues as quickly as possible for Stockton and continue consulting on workforce and contract reform?
Minister reply
We are committed to tackling issues quickly while also looking towards the future with plans such as golden hellos for new dentists.
James Wild
Con
North West Norfolk
Question
Welcoming plan, will constituents in North West Norfolk benefit from £20,000 incentives and mobile dental vans? Will she look closely at the UEA’s proposal for a dental training school?
Minister reply
We are open to ideas of training people with a view to remaining in underserved areas. Golden hellos will apply where they need them most.
Andrew Jones
Con
Harrogate and Knaresborough
Question
Welcoming statement, will good oral health be considered critical for overall health and involve early years support?
Minister reply
Good oral health is a critical part of good overall health. We aim to address this through long-term plans with 2.5 million more appointments from the beginning of life to adulthood.
Shadow Comment
Wes Streeting
Shadow Comment
The shadow Minister of State for Mental Health, Addiction and Suicide Prevention, Wes Streeting, expressed his best wishes to His Majesty the King. He thanked the Secretary of State for accidentally sending her entire plan via email before its announcement. Mr Streeting highlighted that after 14 years of Conservative government, NHS dentistry is in decay, with 8 out of 10 dentists not taking on new patients and nearly all dental practices refusing to see new NHS patients in the south-west of England. He criticised the lack of meaningful action, pointing out that one in ten people has been forced to attempt DIY dentistry due to a shortage of available NHS dentists.
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