Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to help resolve any issues Capita is experiencing managing the process of applications to the National Dental Performers List.

Capita has made NHS England aware of a number of issues involving the National Dental Performers List process. Immediate action has been taken to put in place plans to recover the services, and NHS England has provided a team of experts to support Capita’s work, both in managing existing functions more effectively and improving the service for the future.

The actions Capita are taking to stabilise and recover the service include:

- Recruiting additional staff and developing staff knowledge through further training and development supported by external experts;

- Standardising the processes used and work tracking tools;

- More proactive communication to applicants regarding the progress of their application; and

- Developing the internal integrated work management system to enable Performers List work to be tracked and work-flowed through the process.

NHS England is meeting with Capita on a weekly basis to oversee the delivery of these plans and to ensure the right improvements are in place.

My hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Nicola Blackwood), will continue to work with Capita and NHS England to ensure that services are restored to an acceptable and sustainable standard.