Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Dentistry Update

23 May 2024 · Department of Health and Social Care

Proposed by Andrea Leadsom Con South Northamptonshire

NHS

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

View on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Key points

  • The government is consulting on a proposal to require graduate dentists to provide a minimum amount of NHS dental care.
  • The aim is to improve patient access to NHS dental services and ensure better value from public investment in dental education.
  • The statement focuses on the recovery and reform of NHS dentistry following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Issue summary

The statement addresses the recovery and reform of NHS dentistry following the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on increasing capacity and improving access to dental care.

Action requested

The government is consulting on introducing a 'tie-in' for graduate dentists, requiring them to deliver a minimum amount of NHS dental care after completing their training. The aim is to ensure better value from public investment in dental education and improve patient access to NHS services.

Key facts

  • Government's plan aims to fund up to 2.5 million additional appointments or more than 1.5 million courses of treatment.
  • Over 500 more dental practices are open to new patients as of May 9, 2024.
  • NHS Long Term Workforce Plan sets an ambition to increase dentistry training places by 40%, reaching 1,100 dentists per year by 2031.
  • Only 24,151 out of more than 35,000 registered dentists delivered at least some NHS activity in England in 2022 to 2023.
  • Training an individual dentist costs up to approximately £292,000, with around £200,000 not repayable by the student.
  • Consultation seeks views on a minimum NHS service requirement for newly qualified dentists.
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