NHS Dentists

Nusrat Ghani Excerpts

Thursday 5th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Alex Easton]

I congratulate the hon. Member on securing that funding. I totally agree with all her sentiments. Maybe you can give me a clue how to get that funding as well for Northern Ireland.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Order. Not “you”, Mr Easton—it was not me that you were referring to. You have lots of time, so enjoy it.

[Alex Easton]

Apologies, Madam Deputy Speaker. We all understand that there are regional differences in how dental contracts work across our UK nations. However, a common theme is identified: many of our NHS dentists feel that they are being asked to do more to address complex needs with resources that simply do not match the reality on the ground. My research indicates that in some parts of the United Kingdom, the very way that dentists are paid actively works against the long-term interests of patients. The current system rewards quick, high-volume work rather than the kind of long-term, preventive care that is essential if we are serious about keeping mouths in Britain healthy.

Many of our newly qualified dentists tell me that the NHS contracts are inflexible, overly bureaucratic and in many cases financially unsustainable for anything beyond the most basic level of service.