NHS Dentists: South-West England
Debate between Neil O'Brien and Richard Drax(11 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Neil O’Brien
I feel the exact same sense of burning urgency that my hon. Friend feels. I hope our plan will be out very shortly.
Richard Drax
The Minister may be coming to this point, but can I ask him about the disincentives—the cap beyond which dentists do not get paid, and the money that is taken off them if they underspend? Is that issue going to be resolved?
Neil O’Brien
Absolutely. I mentioned that in the last financial year we brought in the 110% flexibility so that those who do want to go further and deliver more NHS care were able to do so. We are looking at continuing that and also making some further changes to make the system more flexible and give local commissioners more power, so we do not have these rigidities in the system leading to the absurd situation where there is both under-delivery and underspend, which is completely maddening to everyone.
Once again, I thank my hon. Friend the Member for West Dorset for raising this hugely important subject. I am sure all hon. Members will want to see the dentistry plan out as shortly as possible.