Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the Which? investigation that found that prospective NHS dental patients are being forced to pay a deposit before being allowed to book an appointment.

Patients may not be charged a deposit for National Health Service care. NHS dental charges are specified in regulations and may only be levied once a course of treatment has begun. Asking for a deposit or any other advance payment before the course of treatment has begun is a breach of contract. The Department expects NHS England, which is responsible for commissioning NHS dental services, to act appropriately where there is evidence that patients have been mischarged.