Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the cost of (a) public and (b) private dentistry on people's ability to access those services.

Our latest Dental Statistics Annual Report for England shows signs of improvements in people’s access to National Health Service dentistry. NHS dental activity, as measured by Courses of Treatments delivered, has increased by 23% between 2021/22 and 2022/23. Dental Statistics is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-dental-statistics

The Department has produced an Impact Assessment in respect of the uplift of National Health Service dental charges for patients in England from 24 April, which is available at the following link:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/367/impacts/2023/41(opens in a new tab)

Alongside this, and in line with our Public Sector Equality duty, the Department has also considered the impact of the change on equality and on those from disadvantaged groups.

Dental patient charges remain an important contribution to the overall NHS budget. 47.3% of courses of treatment were delivered to non-paying adults and children in 2021/22

We continue to provide financial support to those who need it most by offering exemptions to NHS dental patient charges, and support through the low-income scheme for patients who meet the eligibility criteria. Further information is available at the following NHS website:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/dental-costs/get-help-with-dental-costs/

No assessment has been undertaken on the impact on families who opt to access care from a private dentist.