EDM 1345: Reform of NHS dentistry services

That this House notes with concern the findings of the Public Accounts Committee's report entitled Fixing NHS Dentistry, which highlights the failure of the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England's 2024 dental recovery plan to improve access to NHS dental services; is alarmed that only 40% of adults in England were able to see an NHS dentist in the two years to March 2024, a decline from 49% prior to the covid-19 pandemic; recognises that the current dental contract, established in 2006, is unfit for purpose and does not incentivise dental practices to provide sufficient NHS care; acknowledges that initiatives such as the new patient premium and the golden hello recruitment scheme have not achieved their intended outcomes, with the latter resulting in less than 20% of the expected dentist appointments; expresses dissatisfaction that the Government has not committed to a clear timeline for reforming the NHS dental contract, as evidenced by the response to Written Question 46464 on 28 April 2025, where no specific timeframe was provided; and calls on the Government to work collaboratively with dental professionals, integrated care boards and other stakeholders to design and implement a new dental contract that addresses current shortcomings and promotes the provision of NHS dental services, ensuring equitable access to dental care for all citizens.