Found: to access NHS dentistry; and whether we can do more to improve digital connectivity within NHS dental

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether dentists working in dental treatment vans will be offered one-off payments of up to £20,000.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We will offer Golden Hellos of £20,000 to up to 240 dentists who join existing National Health Service practices, in areas where recruitment is particularly challenging. Golden Hello payments will be phased over three years, and require a commitment to stay in that area delivering NHS work for at least three years.

We will also be deploying dental vans offering appointments to patients in need, including targeted rural and coastal communities who have the most limited access to dentistry, starting later this year. We are working with NHS England and the integrated care boards on the precise nature of the contracting and payment model for dental vans.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many dentists were recruited from overseas by the NHS in the last 12 months; and if she will make an estimate of the number of dentists that will be recruited from overseas by the NHS in the next 12 months.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

To legally practise dentistry in the United Kingdom, a dentist must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC), the independent regulator of dentistry. Once registered with the GDC, dentists can choose whether to practise in the National Health Service or privately. To practise in the NHS, dentists must be on the dental performers list.

The Department does not hold the information requested on the number of overseas-qualified dentists that have joined the performers list in the last 12 months. No estimate has been made of the number of overseas-qualified dentists that will join the performers list in the next 12 months.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many extra (a) appointments and (b) treatments will be delivered through each element of the dentistry recovery plan.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We want to make sure that everyone needing a National Health Service dentist can access one. Our plan to recover and reform NHS dentistry will make dental services faster, simpler, and fairer for patients and will fund approximately 2.5 million additional appointments, or more than 1.5 million additional courses of dental treatment.

The methodology underpinning this modelling has been shared with the Health and Social Care Select Committee and has also been placed in the libraries for both Houses. This includes information on the estimated number of treatments and appointments delivered by each of the interventions in our dentistry recovery plan.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an estimate of the number of dental practices that have announced that they plan to withdraw from NHS contracts since 7 February 2024.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Monthly data on the Units of Dental Activity (UDA) delivered is published by the NHS Business Services Authority, although this data has an approximate two-month time lag, and therefore we expect data for February 2024 to be published around Mid-May. Otherwise, UDA delivery data is available at the following link:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/english-contractor-monthly-general-dental-activity

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many units of dental activity her Department (a) had estimated would be and (b) have been undertaken between 7 February and 22 March 2024.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Monthly data on the Units of Dental Activity (UDA) delivered is published by the NHS Business Services Authority, although this data has an approximate two-month time lag, and therefore we expect data for February 2024 to be published around Mid-May. Otherwise, UDA delivery data is available at the following link:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/english-contractor-monthly-general-dental-activity

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS dental contracts have been changed following a request from dental practices since 7 February 2024.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Monthly data on the Units of Dental Activity (UDA) delivered is published by the NHS Business Services Authority, although this data has an approximate two-month time lag, and therefore we expect data for February 2024 to be published around Mid-May. Otherwise, UDA delivery data is available at the following link:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/english-contractor-monthly-general-dental-activity

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS dental contracts have been handed back 7 February 2024.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Monthly data on the Units of Dental Activity (UDA) delivered is published by the NHS Business Services Authority, although this data has an approximate two-month time lag, and therefore we expect data for February 2024 to be published around Mid-May. Otherwise, UDA delivery data is available at the following link:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/english-contractor-monthly-general-dental-activity

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how her Department determines the performance target for units of dental activity for each dental practice.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

From 1 April 2023, the responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to all integrated care boards (ICBs) across England.

The current General Dental Service (GDS) contract and Personal Dental Service (PDS) agreement were introduced in 2006. The majority of contracts which deliver routine, or mandatory, dental services are legacy arrangements from pre-2006, and the contracted Units of Dental Activity (UDAs) under these contracts generally reflect the treatment volumes that were required from each practice prior to the new arrangements coming into force.

Activity levels for any new GDS contracts or PDS agreements would be determined as part of the procurement process, taking into account oral health needs assessments undertaken by ICBs, to identify areas of need and to determine the priorities for investment.

Contractors are expected to deliver 96 to 102% of their agreed activity each year. Where contracts deliver less than 96%, the value of the undelivered activity is recouped from the contractor. Undelivered activity between 96 to 100% may be carried forward into the next financial year. Activity greater than 100% may be funded to 110%, if there is a local arrangement with the ICB, or may be deducted from the activity requirements of the next financial year.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to NHS Dentistry in Wellingborough constituency.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

On 7 February 2024, we published Faster, simpler and fairer: our plan to recover and reform NHS dentistry, which is backed by £200 million and will fund approximately 2.5 million additional appointments, or more than 1.5 million additional courses of dental treatment. The plan sets out our actions to improve dental access for patients across the country, and to address the challenges facing National Health Service dentistry, including in Northamptonshire.

From 1 April 2023, the responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to all integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board is responsible for having local processes in place to identify areas of need, and determine the priorities for investment across the ICB area.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to ban mercury-based dental amalgam in England and, if so, when.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The United Kingdom’s current position is to phase down the use of dental amalgam in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in line with national plans published in 2019. This includes avoiding the need for fillings through improvements in oral health and prevention, a clinical minimal intervention approach, restrictions on the use of dental amalgam on the treatment of deciduous teeth; in children under 15 years; and in pregnant or breastfeeding women, except when strictly deemed necessary by the practitioner on the ground of specific medical needs of the patient. This position is based on existing research on dental amalgam alternatives, clinical assessments based on clinical, and population need of the UK, impacts of COVID-19 and environmental uncertainties.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the EU about the possibility of seeking an exemption for Northern Ireland on any ban on mercury-based dental amalgam.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government published an explanatory memorandum for the European Union’s (EU) mercury products legislation COM(23)395 and C(23)4683, on 1 November 2023. The final regulation has not yet been published by the EU, and we continue to assess the potential impacts. The Windsor Framework provides important mechanisms for robust engagement on matters of regulatory policy between the EU and the United Kingdom, as well as a guarantee of democratic oversight for the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Government has regular conversations with the EU about Windsor Framework-related matters.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the proposed EU ban on mercury-based dental amalgam will apply in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government published an explanatory memorandum for the European Union’s (EU) mercury products legislation COM(23)395 and C(23)4683, on 1 November 2023. The final regulation has not yet been published by the EU, and we continue to assess the potential impacts. The Windsor Framework provides important mechanisms for robust engagement on matters of regulatory policy between the EU and the United Kingdom, as well as a guarantee of democratic oversight for the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Government has regular conversations with the EU about Windsor Framework-related matters.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will publish the modelling produced by NHS England which shows that the NHS Dental Recovery Plan will deliver 2.5 million NHS dentistry appointments.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

On 7 February 2024, we published Faster, simpler and fairer: our plan to recover and reform NHS dentistry, which is backed by £200 million and will fund approximately 2.5 million additional appointments, or more than 1.5 million additional courses of dental treatment. The plan sets out our actions to improve dental access for patients by helping the sector to recover from the pandemic, as well as actions needed for long-term reform.

Further information on the modelling for the number of additional appointments being delivered under the plan will be shared with the Health and Social Care Select Committee shortly, and also to be placed in the Library.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2024 to Question 16340 on Dental Services, whether column H in the spreadsheet link provided is the (a) monthly or (b) annual unit of dental activity performance target.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The answer of 5 March 2024 to Question 16340 provided a link to data published by the NHS Business Services Authority on English Contractor Monthly General Dental Activity. Column H of the data spreadsheet is the annual Units of Dental Activity performance target.

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 adequacy of NHS dental provision in Wellingborough constituency.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

On 7 February 2024, we published Faster, simpler and fairer: our plan to recover and reform NHS dentistry, which is backed by £200 million and will fund approximately 2.5 million additional appointments, or more than 1.5 million additional courses of dental treatment. The plan sets out our actions to improve dental access for patients across the country and to address the challenges facing National Health Service dentistry, including in Northamptonshire.

From 1 April 2023, the responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to all integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board is responsible for having local processes in place to identify areas of need and determine the priorities for investment across the ICB area. NHS Dental Statistics, published by NHS Digital, provides data on dental activity in England. The latest annual report is available at the following link:

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

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of NHS dentists in Wellingborough constituency.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

On 7 February 2024, we published Faster, simpler and fairer: our plan to recover and reform NHS dentistry, which is backed by £200 million and will fund approximately 2.5 million additional appointments, or more than 1.5 million additional courses of dental treatment. The plan sets out our actions to improve dental access for patients across the country and to address the challenges facing National Health Service dentistry, including in Northamptonshire.

From 1 April 2023, the responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to all integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board is responsible for having local processes in place to identify areas of need and determine the priorities for investment across the ICB area. NHS Dental Statistics, published by NHS Digital, provides data on dental activity in England. The latest annual report is available at the following link:

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

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Found: services contract to provide primary dental services, or an agreement for the provision of primary

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Found: important measure forms a key part of our dental recovery plan which aims to improve access to NHS dental

Found: services and the NHS in the n orth east region of England .

Found: Smart Dental was commissioned separately to provide dental services. 4.39 NHS England (NHSE) had several

Found: . • NHS Dental Services – providing a range of services to over 25,000 NHS contracted dentists who provide

Found: . • NHS Dental Services – providing a range of services to over 25,000 NHS contracted dentists who provide

Found: . • NHS Dental Services – providing a range of services to over 25,000 NHS contracted dentists who provide

Found: . • NHS Dental Services – providing a range of services to over 25,000 NHS contracted dentists who provide

Found: to access NHS dentistry ; and • whether we can do more to improve digital connectivity within NHS dental

Found: contact lenses; appliances and equipment e .g., wheelchairs; NHS and private medical, optical and dental

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Question

Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health

Dentists operating in rural areas can also apply to the remote areas allowance. The allowance is calculated on their proportion of NHS earnings to total earnings and therefore can be awarded up to £9000 per year. Other allowances are available for dentists as available in the Statement of Dental Remuneration.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria dental providers must meet to benefit from the Scottish Dental Access Initiative.

Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health

In order to receive a grant under the Scottish Dental Access Initiative, prospective applicants must set out their intention to i) establish a new practice or ii) extend an existing practice within designated geographical areas. Designated areas are defined by Scottish Government with reference to overall availability of General Dental Services. Once granted, SDAI funding is monitored to ensure ongoing compliance with a number of conditions which the grantee agrees to when signing the grant offer letter. These include.