The UK government has initiated a comprehensive survey targeting dentists across England, aiming to gather detailed input that will inform future reforms to the NHS dental contract. This move is intended to support improvements in NHS dentistry and help the government gain a deeper understanding of the financial and operational challenges facing dental practices.
Dentists are being urged to participate in the survey by sharing their experiences related to the cost of delivering NHS dental care. According to officials, this feedback is essential to shaping policy and providing a clearer picture of the economic pressures that have led to increasing costs in the sector. The survey, which is now open, will remain accessible until 16 June 2025. Additionally, practice owners who take part are invited to register their interest in follow-up research that will delve further into the issues highlighted.
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock emphasized the importance of understanding the full scope of the problem in order to develop effective solutions. He acknowledged that the NHS dental sector has suffered from years of neglect, but pointed to some early steps already taken by the government, including the rollout of 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments and a supervised toothbrushing initiative targeting young children in disadvantaged areas. Kinnock underscored that while progress has been made, more needs to be done. He expressed confidence that the survey would offer valuable insight into the sector’s current struggles and guide necessary changes under the government’s broader plan for improvement.
Shiv Pabary, chair of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee, described the government’s move as significant. He stated that a sustainable future for NHS dentistry cannot be achieved without a precise understanding of the financial demands involved in running a practice. According to Pabary, years of austerity have pushed many practices into a position where they are delivering care at a financial loss—an unsustainable situation for any business. The BDA has previously estimated that practices lose more than £40 on average when providing a set of NHS dentures and over £7 on a new patient exam. These figures, Pabary said, demonstrate the urgent need for action, as the treasury has come to rely on practices subsidizing care out of their own resources.
The BDA has welcomed the launch of the cost-of-service survey, encouraging widespread participation. The association sees this initiative as a necessary step toward restoring balance and sustainability in the system, ensuring that dentists are adequately compensated for the care they provide under the NHS.
Earlier this year, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) issued a stark warning in its report on the future of NHS dentistry. The committee concluded that the current system offers no sustainable path forward without comprehensive reform. Among its key concerns was the substantial earnings gap between NHS and private dental practices. The report cautioned that unless the government addresses inadequate remuneration, more dental professionals are likely to abandon the NHS in favor of the private sector.
The PAC strongly recommended a complete overhaul of the existing contract, citing fundamental problems with the affordability and structure of NHS dental work. The BDA echoed these concerns and expressed hope that the survey would help the government gain a nuanced and accurate understanding of what it truly costs to operate within the NHS dental framework. This, they believe, will pave the way for practical measures to support the dental sector and ensure long-term viability for NHS dentistry in England.
Related topics