Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help patients who live in areas where no dental practices have (a) applied for or (b) been granted funding via the announced £50 million fund for additional dental appointments and are unable to access dental treatment as an NHS patient.

NHS England set regional budgets for the additional £50 million based on weighted 2020/21 baseline payments. National Health Service regional teams are working with local providers to commission additional activity to improve access for patients. Regional commissioners are facilitating the distribution of the additional funding in all regions.

NHS dental practices have been asked to meet as many prioritised needs as is safely possible through urgent care, care for vulnerable groups and children, followed by delayed planned care. Patients can contact NHS England’s Customer Contact Centre for assistance in finding a local dental practice or NHS111 if seeking urgent dental care. We are currently developing further proposals for dental system reform with the aim of improving access for patients.