This consultation is part of the government’s plan to recover and reform NHS dentistry, and builds on the actions in the Long Term Workforce Plan.
Between 2020 and 2022, at least 7 million fewer patients saw an NHS dentist compared with pre-pandemic levels as a result of the pandemic (2022 data compared with 2019). Following the pandemic, patients seeking dental care have found it difficult to get the care they need.
On 7 February 2024 we published 'Faster, simpler and fairer: our plan to recover and reform NHS dentistry', to help the sector to recover activity more quickly by addressing underlying issues and setting out the action needed for longer term reform of the system. Our commitment is to improve access to NHS dental care so that those who need to see a dentist are able to, especially in under-served parts of the country.
Supporting our dedicated dental workforce is of utmost priority. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England will review what further actions can be taken to support professional development within NHS dentistry, to make NHS dental care an attractive career choice where all professionals can work to their full scope of practice.
Working in the NHS offers dental graduates the best start to their careers, by providing early career exposure to a diverse patient base, ensuring dentists develop a well-rounded skill set and can offer comprehensive dental care to a high standard.
The taxpayer makes a significant investment in the education and training of dentists in England. The government believes this investment should be reflected in the availability of NHS dentistry, especially given the current challenges around patient access to dental services.
This consultation seeks the views of interested parties on the proposal for a ‘tie-in’ to NHS dentistry for newly qualified dentists. This would ensure that graduate dentists spend at least some of their time delivering NHS care in the years following the completion of training.
This consultation is aimed at those who have an interest in the policy proposal, whether professionals, organisations or members of the public.
The consultation period will close at 11:59pm on 18 July 2024. Please review the full consultation page before completing this survey.
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