Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Dental Services

Tuesday 5 December 2023 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Integrated care boards are responsible for identifying local needs and setting priorities for investment in dentistry.
  • NHS England requires ICBs to ringfence dental funding, with any unused resources to be redirected to improve NHS dental access.
  • Guidance has been provided to ICBs to ensure funding is used correctly for dental services, with a focus on urgent and preventive care.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Layla Moran Lib Dem Oxford West and Abingdon
NHS
Context

The question arises from concerns over the availability of dentistry appointments in the NHS, which impacts other services.

Question

I am concerned about the potential impact of levels of availability of dentistry appointments on other NHS services. What recent assessment has been made?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

Integrated care boards are responsible for identifying areas of local need and determining priorities for investment. Guidance was published in October to help ICBs use their commissioning flexibilities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific impact assessment on other services not provided

How: Under Review

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Q2 Kim Johnson Lab Liverpool Riverside
NHS
Context

Liverpool has high dental decay rates among children, and there was a £10 million underspend on primary care dentistry that should have been used for preventive care but instead balanced budgets.

Question

I am glad the Minister mentioned ICBs. Liverpool has a very high percentage of children with dental decay. Instead of investing unused funds in preventive care, NHS England gave permission to all ICBs, including Cheshire and Merseyside, to use balances to balance their budgets. Will the Minister agree now to reinstate ringfenced funding for extra capacity for vulnerable patients?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

NHS England has provided guidance for ICBs that requires dental funding to be ringfenced, with any unused resources redirected to improve NHS dental access in the first instance. Expenditure against the dental ringfence will be reported as part of financial planning.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Direct reinstatement commitment not provided

How: Guidance Provided

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Q3 Steve Brine Con
NHS
Context

The former dental Minister previously committed to publishing a dental recovery plan during the summer or before recess, but it was not published. A report on Dental Services is due.

Question

The Government previously promised to publish a dental recovery plan, with the former dental minister stating everyone who needs one should be able to access an NHS dentist. The response to our 'Dental Services' report is due on 14 September. When will the plan and response be published?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

The dental report's response will be sent imminently. Both Ministers are looking into community needs, especially in rural and coastal areas, for urgent and preventive care.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific publication date not provided

How: Looking Carefully

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Q4 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
NHS
Context

A dentist in the constituency stopped providing NHS services, leaving patients with nowhere else to go. There was a meeting with ICB about underspend on ringfenced money.

Question

Another dentist in my constituency told constituents they can no longer provide NHS services, and there is nowhere else nearby for them to go. The ICB was specifically told that the ringfence was being disapplied. Does the Secretary of State agree that this money should be spent on dental services?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

NHS England has provided guidance, as set out earlier.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific agreement not given

How: Guidance Provided

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Q5 Derek Thomas Con
NHS
Context

Cornwall ICB committed to ringfencing money for dentistry next year but returned £4.5 million due to unmet units of dental activity.

Question

ICBs have received guidance, and Cornwall has committed to ringfencing funds for dentistry next year, yet £4.5 million was returned to NHS England before the commitment. What can be done to ensure Cornwall gets its intended funding?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

The ministerial team and I are looking at underspend in dental work. Guidance emphasised that the funding should be ringfenced.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to ensure funding not detailed

How: Looking Carefully

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Q6 Abena Oppong-Asare Lab Erith and Thamesmead
NHS
Context

The Prime Minister pledged to restore NHS dentistry but is allowing ICBs to raid budgets. Labour's plan includes extra appointments, school toothbrushing, and targeted recruitment in left-behind areas.

Question

I welcome the Secretary of State and her Ministers to their posts. The PM promised to restore NHS dentistry last year, yet allowed ICBs to raid budgets last month. We have a plan for 700,000 extra appointments, school toothbrushing, targeted recruitment, funded by abolishing non-dom tax status. Labour has a plan, but the Government's is four months overdue. Where is it?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

I look forward to discussing these matters with her over the Dispatch Box.

Not addressed: Direct question about the plan not answered

How: Will Discuss

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