Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

NHS Dental Services

Tuesday 14 April 2026 · 5 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

  • Minister reported delivering 1.8 million more dental treatments since July 2024.
  • ICB area in Shipley showed a 79% success rate for accessing NHS dental appointments in the past two years.
  • Harrogate and Knaresborough ICB area delivered 52,795 more NHS dental treatments between April and October 2025 compared to before the election.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Dyke Lib Dem Glastonbury and Somerton
NHS
Context

The question is about the number of urgent dental appointments provided since April 2025, prompted by the ongoing effort to rebuild the NHS dentistry system.

Question

How many urgent dental appointments have been provided since 1 April 2025?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock

Since July 2024, we have been rebuilding a broken NHS dentistry system. We have delivered 1.8 million more treatments and reduced the underspend from £392 million to just £36 million, maximising the treatment provided for taxpayers' money. Last year, we asked integrated care boards to commission additional urgent appointments, and the data will be published in August.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The exact number of urgent dental appointments since July 2024 is not specified.

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Q2 Anna Dixon Lab Shipley
NHS
Context

Over 1,100 Shipley residents reported difficulties in accessing NHS dental services over the past two years. Many have had to go private or resort to DIY dentistry.

Question

I recently asked Shipley residents about their access to NHS dental services over the past two years. Over 1,100 respondents said that they could not see an NHS dentist when they needed to. I have heard from constituents who have had to go private, travel for hours to access NHS dentistry or resort to DIY dentistry. What progress is the Minister making to fix the rotten dentistry that we inherited from the previous Government?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock

My hon. Friend is a strong campaigner for her constituents. The situation that she sets out is unacceptable, but change is under way. I am encouraged by the latest data for her ICB area, which shows a 79% success rate for those who tried to get an NHS dentist appointment in the past two years, and that 10% more treatments were delivered between April and October 2025, compared with the same period before the election. Our reforms from this April will go further, focusing on those with the most urgent and complex needs, to ensure that people can access care when they need it most.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not address the specific issue of constituents having to resort to private dentists or DIY solutions.

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Q3 Tom Gordon Lib Dem Harrogate and Knaresborough
NHS
Context

Dentists in Harrogate and Knaresborough are constrained by the current funding model, preventing them from expanding access despite having physical space ready for new dentists.

Question

I have been contacted by dentists who want to expand access but are constrained by the current NHS dental funding model. One practice has the physical space for a dentist but cannot get them in because of the funding model, forcing reliance on short-term foundation dentists. Will the Minister outline steps taken to reform this and will he meet me to discuss issues in my constituency?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock

In the Humber and North Yorkshire ICB area, 52,795 more NHS dental treatments were delivered between April and October 2025 compared with before the election. Long-term contract reform is ongoing to resolve funding issues, and we will come forward in summer with a public consultation on fundamental reform.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Meeting request not addressed

How: Under Review, Ongoing Work

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Q4 Sarah Dyke Lib Dem Glastonbury and Somerton
NHS
Context

A constituent's daughter has been unable to get an urgent dental appointment despite months of trying, highlighting the shortage of such appointments.

Question

My constituent's 14-year-old daughter with a painful dental abscess has struggled for over several months to access urgent treatment. Given that only 100,000 out of promised 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments have been provided, will the Minister provide a detailed breakdown of how many additional 1.8 million NHS dental appointments are urgent versus routine?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock

We will publish those data and statistics in August, but I can say that following reforms from April, all NHS dentists must deliver 8.2% of their contract in urgent care.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Detailed breakdown not provided

How: Data To Be Published

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Q5 Peter Prinsley Lab Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
NHS Education
Context

The new dental school at the University of East Anglia will admit students from September next year to address dental deserts in Norfolk and Suffolk, but progress with the General Dental Council on exam capacity for international dentists is needed.

Question

I congratulate the ministerial team, UEA, and Office for Students on getting the new dental school at UEA over the line. It will admit 25 students from September next year to address dental deserts in Norfolk and Suffolk. What progress has been made with the GDC to increase exam capacity for dentists coming from overseas?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock

We have had the GDC in our office shortly after the general election to address the backlog of international dentist registrations due to Conservative neglect and incompetence. A new contractor is now delivering thousands more out of this backlog starting from 1 April.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific progress details not provided

How: Neglect, Incompetence

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