Dental Services: Finance

(asked on 2nd February 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the funding announced on the NHS England website on 25 January 2022 for securing additional dental appointments for people suffering from oral pain, disease, and infection, what will happen to the regional funding allocation in any areas where there is insufficient capacity at dental practices to deliver the additional NHS appointments needed by the end of March 2022; if he will make it his policy to extend the time period for that funding to be spent; what longer term plans he has to fund more NHS dental appointments; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Maria Caulfield Portrait
Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
This question was answered on 7th February 2022

National Health Service regional commissioning teams have been asked to indicate their ability to use the full budget provided. Regions have been advised to spend their full budget. However, if necessary, NHS England will seek to redistribute any unused funds. The funding has been secured for this financial year and cannot be carried over.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have set increasing thresholds for activity in NHS contracts throughout the pandemic, supporting increases in access whilst maintaining compliance with infection prevention and control measures. The current threshold is set at 85%. NHS dental practices have been asked to meet as many prioritised needs as possible, focussing first on urgent care and care for vulnerable groups, including children followed by overdue appointments.

Reticulating Splines