Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing free dental care to cancer patients.

Cancer is a priority for this Government, and we want everyone to have access to affordable, high quality dental care. Introducing any new illness-related exemption would carry potential resource implications for the National Health Service and we do need to consider carefully how any financial support for dental care is focused towards those most in need.

Cancer patients are able to apply for exemption from NHS dental charges on income grounds, including partial help through the NHS Low Income Scheme. The full range of exemptions for dental treatment can be found on the NHS Business Services Authority website at the following link:

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-dental-costs

As stated in the NHS Long Term Plan every person diagnosed with cancer, where appropriate will have access to personalised care by 2021, delivered in line with the NHS Comprehensive Model for Personalised Care. This will allow those people manage their care and the impact of their cancer and maximise the potential of digital and community-based support.

Although this support is or will soon be available to many people with cancer, improving access to dentistry for any person with a cancer diagnosis, during and following treatment, is something we are looking at closely. I recently met with the organiser of a campaign on free dental treatment for people with cancer to discuss what more we can do. We will be considering how we can further raise awareness amongst patients and clinicians about the importance of dental check-ups for many people with cancer, and how NHS England might ensure better access to dentistry for any cancer patient who needs it.