Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the key functions of a centre for dental development will be.

Health Education England’s (HEE) ‘Advancing Dental Care Review Report’ explored the concept of Centres for Dental Development to bring together dental education and training at all levels with service delivery models, particularly in localities where there is a shortage in provision of dental services. HEE’s review recommended that the concept of Centres for Dental Development should be explored on a system-wide partnership basis based on local population and workforce need, as part of the Dental Education Reform Programme. It is likely that the model will be adjusted to reflect the local resources and funding available. There is no current commitment on numbers, locations or functions of such centres.