Dental Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to retain dentists within the NHS workforce.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock
The 10-Year Health Plan, published on 3 July 2025, confirms our commitment to transform National Health Service dentistry. We will be making fundamental reforms to the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists, before the end of this Parliament.
We will also make it a requirement for newly qualified dentists to practice in the NHS for a minimum period. That will mean more NHS dentists, more NHS appointments and better oral health.
The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.
The package of reforms to the dental contract that we are introducing this year includes measures to address some of the most pressing issues that dentists and dental teams have been experiencing. This includes fairer remuneration for treating patients with urgent or complex needs as well as measures to help dental professionals feel part of the NHS.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →