Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Emergency Dentistry: Access

Tuesday 6 May 2025 · 2 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The dental contract imposed in 2006 is seen as a key factor driving dentists out of the NHS.
  • The Minister met with the British Dental Association to discuss dental contract reform.
  • Chris Webb raised concerns about lack of access to NHS dentists for adults and pregnant women in Blackpool.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Manuela Perteghella Lib Dem Stratford-on-Avon
NHS
Context

The dental contract imposed in 2006 is widely recognized as a key factor driving dentists out of the NHS. In Stratford-on-Avon, there are no NHS dentists currently taking on new patients, and existing NHS patients are being actively pressured to go private or seek care out of county.

Question

The dental contract imposed in 2006 is widely recognised as a key factor driving dentists out of the NHS. In my constituency of Stratford-on-Avon, there are no NHS dentists currently taking on new patients, and existing NHS patients are being actively pressured to go private or seek care out of county. Will the Minister commit to urgent reform of NHS dentistry, and set out a timeline for negotiations, so that I can reassure my constituents?

Answer from The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)

The hon. Member is right to say that the dental contract is fundamentally flawed and needs reform. I met representatives of the British Dental Association on 8 April, and had a productive discussion with them about dental contract reform. Officials from the Department of Health and Social Care are working hard with the BDA and other stakeholders to develop a dental contract that works for patients, for dental professionals and for the public purse. I will of course keep her and the House updated.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline or commitment for reform was not provided

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Q2 Chris Webb Lab Blackpool South
NHS
Context

Every week, constituents have raised the issue of getting access to an NHS dentist in Blackpool. Currently, nowhere is taking on adults, and nowhere is looking after pregnant women.

Question

It is a year today since I was sworn into this House, and every single week, someone has raised with me the issue of getting access to an NHS dentist in Blackpool. Nowhere is taking on adults, and nowhere is looking after pregnant women. This has to change, so can the Minister outline to my constituents when they will be able to get access to an NHS dentist under this Labour Government?

Answer from The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)

There is no perfect payment system. We have to look at the issue around units of dental activity, and at options around capitation and sessional payments, and come to a conclusion about what works and about how to ensure that everything that we commit to NHS dentistry is spent on NHS dentistry. We are in a mad situation in which, although demand for NHS dentistry is going through the roof, we have an underspend every year on the contract. We have to fix that. It will take some time to work that out with the British Dental Association and other key stakeholders.

Not addressed: Did not provide a timeline for when Blackpool residents would have access to NHS dentistry

How: Discussing Payment Systems Instead Of Addressing Constituent Concerns

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