Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a dentistry workforce strategy.

The Department has commissioned NHS England to develop a long-term plan for key workforce groups and professions across the NHS for the next 15 years, including dental care professionals. The conclusions of this work will be shared in due course.

With the changes announced to the National Health Service Dental Contract Reform in July, we are making improvements to the NHS dental system for patients to get the care they need. This includes new legislation that came into force in November, which more fairly remunerates dentists caring for patients with complex needs and makes the NHS dental contract more attractive to dentists.

We are also working with NHS England and the sector on longer-term improvements. Health Education England have undertaken a three-year Advancing Dental Care Review of education and training which they are now implementing through their Dental Education Reform Programme to improve recruitment and retention.