Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the full guidance issued to NHS commissioners in respect of (a) the year-end reconciliation process for NHS dental contracts and (b) how exceptional circumstances will be assessed and recognised in payments during the fourth quarter of the financial year 2020-21.

NHS England and NHS Improvement recognise that there may be exceptional circumstances when the dental activity target may not be deliverable and, in these situations, National Health Service regional commissioners have the discretion to make exceptions, for instance in cases where a dental practice has been impacted by staff being required to self-isolate and the reinstatement of shielding during the national lockdown. Cases will be considered on an individual basis and contractors are advised to contact commissioners early if they feel that exceptional circumstances may apply. The full guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/dental-provider-assurance/dental-assurance-reviews/mid-yearyear-end-contract-reconciliation