Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to (a) simplify the exemption process for dental charges for people on Universal Credit and (b) introduce a real-time exemption checker for use in dental practices similar to those used in pharmacies.

Free National Health Service dental care is available to people who meet the following criteria:

- under 18 years old, or under 19 years old and in full-time education;

- pregnant, or have had a baby in the previous 12 months;

- being treated in an NHS hospital and the treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist, although patients may have to pay for any dentures or bridges; or

- receiving low-income benefits, or under 20 years old and a dependant of someone receiving low-income benefits.

Support is also available through the NHS Low Income Scheme for those patients who are not eligible for an exemption or for full remission of dental patient charges. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-is-entitled-to-free-nhs-dental-treatment-in-england/

It is the patient’s responsibility to check their eligibility for exemptions from dental patient charges and to help with health costs. The Department has provided information to dental practices on signposting patients to the NHS Business Services Authority’s resources on dental patient charges. This includes the ‘Check before you Tick’ website which provides an immediate way to check eligibility for free dental treatment. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/dont-get-caught-out-penalty-charges/check-you-tick

There are no current plans to expand Real Time Exemption Checking beyond the pharmacy setting.