Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure an adequate number of NHS dentists in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

The Department is working with the National Health Service and Health Education England (HEE) to improve the provision of NHS dentistry nationally, including in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. HEE’s Advancing Dental Care Review aims to tackle recruitment and retention challenges, attracting and retaining more dentists and dental care professionals in the NHS. These recommendations will be implemented through the Dental Education Reform Programme. We are also working with NHS England and other stakeholders to reform the dental contract, to ensure that working in the NHS is more attractive for dentists and other dental professionals.

The Department is working with the General Dental Council on legislative proposals which will allow the regulator greater flexibility to expand the registration options open to international dentists. The consultation on these changes has now closed and subject to its outcome, we hope to bring forward legislative changes later this year.