Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is implementing contract reforms to help support NHS dental provision and recruitment.

We are committed to delivering fundamental reform of the dental contract before the end of this Parliament. As well as working towards a full consultation, we are continuing to engage with the sector regularly, including the British Dental Association and other representatives, to scope potential changes.

As a first step, from April 2026, we will be implementing reforms to the current National Health Service dental contract which are expected to improve access for patients with urgent and complex needs and to better reward dentists for treating these patients. From April, dental practices will be required to deliver a set proportion of their contract as urgent care, supported by increased payments for dentists. We are also introducing three new care pathways for patients with significant dental decay and gum disease, with payments to dentists ranging from £248 to £709 and patients paying one charge for the whole pathway.

By better incentivising urgent and complex care, we’re encouraging dentists to treat these patients, benefiting patients across the country.