Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the potential relationship between the availability of NHS dentistry appointments and patient access to bone-strengthening medication to treat cancer.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Whilst the Department has not made a formal assessment, some integrated care boards (ICBs) may be looking at this, using the flexible commissioning model opportunity to meet the needs of their populations. Cancer services remain a priority for ICBs.

The Government has implemented a package of reforms to improve access to National Health Service dental care, which has had an effect with more patients being seen and a 23% increase in NHS activity in the past year. We know we need to do more, and the Department’s Dentistry Recovery Plan will be published shortly, setting out a big package of change.

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 potential merits of providing free dentistry to people with cancer.

Answered by Neil O'Brien

No assessment has been made.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing free dental care for people with cancer through the NHS.

Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

No recent assessment has been made. People with cancer are able to apply for help with National Health Service dental charges on a range of grounds, including partial help through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Nearly half of all NHS dental patients, approximately 17.7 million people, were treated free of charge in the 2019/20 financial year.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

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

Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

No recent assessment has been made. People with cancer are able to apply for help with National Health Service dental charges on a range of grounds, including partial help through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Nearly half of all NHS dental patients, approximately 17.7 million people, were treated free of charge in the 2019/20 financial year.