NHS Dental Contracting Framework

Lee Pitcher, the Labour MP for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, asked the Minister for Care, Stephen Kinnock, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the NHS dental contracting framework. In his response, the Minister acknowledged the scale of the problem, noting that the most common reason for children aged five to nine being admitted to hospital is tooth decay, which he described as "completely and utterly shocking". The Minister stated that the government is committed to reforming the dental contract and working with the British Dental Association to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists. He also said they are working to ensure that patients can access an additional 700,000 urgent dental appointments. Responding to the Minister, Mr Pitcher shared some "horror stories" from his constituency, including a mother on the Isle of Axholme who could not find an NHS dentist for five years and a gentleman in Doncaster East whose teeth were crumbling due to illness, causing him horrendous pain, and who could not get an appointment. Mr Pitcher welcomed the government's pledge to provide more emergency appointments but asked the Minister to reassure him that people in his constituency will be given the priority they deserve. The Minister acknowledged that South Yorkshire has the highest level of hospital tooth extractions in England and said the government will target interventions at the areas of greatest need, including through the "golden hello" scheme to drive recruitment of graduate dentists to areas of greatest need. Jim Shannon, the DUP MP for Strangford, raised the issues faced by those above the state pension age, particularly in relation to certain benefits such as attendance allowance. The Minister said he is more than happy to look into this issue. Saqib Bhatti, the Conservative MP for Meriden and Solihull East, challenged the Minister on the Labour party's approach, noting that the Secretary of State for Wales had said the Labour government will "take inspiration" from Labour-run Wales on dentistry, where less than 60% of dentistry courses are being completed compared to pre-pandemic figures. The Minister responded by saying the key difference will be that the government in Westminster are "grown-ups in charge" who will work with colleagues in Cardiff Bay to improve the state of NHS dentistry across the United Kingdom.