NHS Dentistry: Work Requirement

George Freeman, the Member of Parliament for Mid Norfolk, asked the Minister for Care, Stephen Kinnock, to assess the potential merits of requiring newly-qualified dentists to work for the NHS for a set period of time. In his response, the Minister acknowledged the urgent need for action in NHS dentistry due to 14 years of "chaos, failure and neglect." He stated that the government's rescue plan aims to get NHS dentistry "back on its feet," followed by contract reform to make NHS dentistry more attractive. The Minister also mentioned that a consultation on a potential tie-in for graduate dentists to work for the NHS had recently closed, and the government's position on this proposal would be set out in due course. George Freeman welcomed the Minister's response and encouraged him to reach out and build a cross-party coalition of support for NHS reform. He suggested that the Minister should meet with MPs from Norfolk, which has suffered more than most counties, to discuss the need for a University of East Anglia dental school. The Minister responded positively, stating that the government is willing to work with anyone who has the best interests of rebuilding public services at heart. He acknowledged the specific issue raised by George Freeman and expressed openness to further conversations. Rachael Maskell, the Member of Parliament for York Central, then intervened, highlighting that only 39.2% of her constituents were able to access an NHS dentist over the past two years, which she described as "an absolute disgrace." She noted that the Health and Social Care Committee had produced a report with recommendations on how to resolve the challenges facing NHS dentistry, including access and tie-ins for dentists. The Minister acknowledged Rachael Maskell's points and stated that the government's rescue plan, which includes measures such as more appointments, incentives for new graduates, and contract reform, is aligned with the recommendations made in the committee's report.