Key Summary
- NHS Confederation feels that the dentistry contract needs to be reformed
- The confederation feels the consultation is the first step towards ensuring that the dental contract incentivises prevention and improved oral health
- The confederation wants the dentistry contract to allow flexibility to respond to local needs, as different parts of the country have different challenges
NHS Confederation primary care director Ruth Rankine has welcomed the health department's recent move to start a consultation on reforming the NHS dentistry contract.
She said the contract needs reform and lauded the government for "grasping the nettle at last."
"Years of underfunding and workforce shortages has left millions of people without access to even the most basic dental services," she added.
Rankine stated that the government's Ten-Year Health Plan has made several critical commitments to improve access to dental care.
"This consultation is the first step towards ensuring that the dental contract incentivises prevention and improved oral health," she said.
Rakine said the dentistry contract should allow flexibility to respond to local needs, as different parts of the country have different challenges.
She said that dentistry has a vital role to play in building multidisciplinary neighbourhood health services and providing more preventative treatments.
"But it is not just about recruiting more dentists. We need to recognise the role the entire dental workforce can play – including other dental care professionals such as dental therapists and dental nurses – allowing dentists to focus on the most complex of patients," she said.
