Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Accessibility to Dental Services

Tuesday 23 January 2024 · 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

  • The number of adults seen by an NHS dentist rose from 448,000 to 485,000 in the past two years.
  • Legislative changes were made in 2023 to triple the capacity of the overseas registration exam, creating additional 1,300 places overall.
  • The Minister stated determination to ensure that everybody who needs NHS dental care can receive it, highlighting reforms that have resulted in 1.7 million more adults being seen and a 23% increase in NHS activity over the past year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
NHS
Context

The government promised to introduce a dental recovery plan but has delayed it multiple times. Dentists in York are refusing NHS contracts.

Question

What progress has been made on introducing a dentistry recovery plan? We were promised 'before the summer', we were promised 'after the summer', we were promised 'before Christmas', we were promised 'soon' and now we have been promised 'shortly'. The reality is that Labour has a plan and the Government have not. In York, we cannot get an NHS dentist either. Blossom Family Dental Care is just handing back its contract. My constituents have nowhere to go.

Answer from Andrea Leadsom

I understand the challenges people face but the situation has improved over the last year with 1.7 million more adults being seen and a 23% increase in NHS activity. We are putting in plans to enable many more people to be seen by NHS dentists. I encourage her to talk to her Integrated Care Board about dentistry funding.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify when the recovery plan will be published or concrete steps being taken immediately.

How: We Are Putting In Plans, I Encourage Her To Talk To Her Icb

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Q2 Layla Moran Lib Dem Oxford West and Abingdon
NHS
Context

An Oxford resident wrote to the MP saying that when his NHS practice closed, he could not find an alternative NHS dentist; all others offered only private care. A&E waits have increased due to people waiting for dental appointments.

Question

I listened carefully to what the Minister said. That change has not come to Oxfordshire—it is in a dire state. An Oxford resident wrote to me saying that when his NHS practice closed, he rang a dozen others across the county and each one said they were offering NHS services but, in fact, they were only offering private care. In this cost of living crisis, people simply cannot afford that. As a result, they are waiting in A&E rather than getting treatment, and that ends up in their having oral surgery.

Answer from Andrea Leadsom

I am incredibly sympathetic. The number of adults seen by an NHS dentist rose from 448,000 to 485,000 in the past two years. The situation is improving but we need to do more and will be coming forward shortly with a big package of dental recovery plan reforms.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify any immediate actions for Oxfordshire or concrete steps being taken now.

How: The Situation Is Improving, We Need To Do More

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Q3 Giles Watling Con
NHS
Context

Following a meeting with the Minister, the MP questions whether NHS England locally has been unblocked for his constituents to benefit from more dentists practising on NHS patients.

Question

I thank my right hon. Friend for her answer. Following my very productive meeting with her only a few days ago, will she confirm that NHS England locally has finally been unblocked and that my constituents in Clacton will soon benefit from more dentists practising on NHS patients?

Answer from Andrea Leadsom

As my hon. Friend will know, this is a local matter and it is for his ICB to determine whether it wishes to support the pilot proposal for overseas dental students in Clacton. At the same time, it needs to ensure that its actions are compliant with current legislation.

Not addressed: Did not confirm if NHS England locally has been unblocked or provide a timeline.

How: This Is A Local Matter, It Is For His Icb

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Q4 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
NHS
Context

For new patients, accessing an NHS dentist in Peterborough is almost impossible. The MP asks for support to establish a new dental practice.

Question

For new patients, accessing an NHS dentist in Peterborough is almost impossible. Should a new medical centre wish to establish a new NHS dental practice, doing so would require flexibility in units of dental activity rates and the ability to recruit dentists from overseas. Would the Minister give that effort her enthusiastic support and encourage NHS bosses to do the same?

Answer from Andrea Leadsom

My hon. Friend is pushing against an open door. We made legislative changes in 2023 to triple the capacity of three sittings of the overseas registration exam from August 2023 and increase the number of sittings for the part 2 exam in 2024 from three to four, creating additional 1,300 places overall for overseas dentists aiming to work in the UK.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly confirm support or enthusiastic approval of establishing a new practice.

How: My Hon. Friend Is Pushing Against An Open Door

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Q5 Paul Bristow
NHS
Context

Emma from Grimsby shared that since the onset of the pandemic, she has not been able to register with an NHS dentist and had to seek emergency appointments elsewhere.

Question

I want to share with Ministers the experience of Emma from Grimsby, who said: 'NHS dentistry is a joke in the town at the moment. Thankfully I managed to get an emergency appointment in Scunthorpe (after being offered one in Doncaster originally) and I've now been referred to hospital to have 3 wisdom teeth removed. My dentist closed at the onset of the pandemic and I've not been able to register with an NHS dentist since.' What does the Minister have to say to Emma and the millions like her who cannot get an appointment when they need one?

Answer from Andrea Leadsom

The hon. Lady is absolutely right. Since the covid pandemic we have not seen the recovery of dentistry that we would have liked. We brought in significant reforms in July 2022 to encourage dentists to take on more NHS patients but recognise the need for further action.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify what is being done now or immediate actions to help Emma and others like her.

How: We Brought In Significant Reforms, Recognise The Need For Further Action

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Q6 Preet Kaur Gill Labour (Co-op) Birmingham Edgbaston
NHS
Context

Government promised to introduce a dental recovery plan but has delayed it multiple times. Dentists in York are refusing NHS contracts.

Question

What progress she has made on introducing a dentistry recovery plan?

Answer from Andrea Leadsom

I am determined to ensure that everybody who needs NHS dental care can receive it. We have already implemented reforms with 1.7 million more adults being seen and a 23% increase in NHS activity over the past year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify when the recovery plan will be published or provide concrete steps towards its implementation.

How: We Have Already Implemented Reforms

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