Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the NHS deflator works in relation to the General Dental Service.

The NHS Cost Inflation Index (NHSCII) is a measure of inflation that is used in productivity calculations, and is produced annually in conjunction with NHS England, the Centre for Health Economics at the University of York, and the Office for National Statistics.

National Health Service dentists are typically employed under General Dental Services (GDS) contracts. The NHSCII plays no role in determining the value of GDS contracts.

GDS contract uplifts comprise of pay and non-pay elements. The non-pay element is uplifted by a measure of inflation. Since the 2022/23 financial year, this measure has been the gross domestic product (GDP) deflator. The GDP deflator has been taken from the rates published as part of the Autumn Statement, and is consistent with the GDP deflator rate used in other areas of primary care.

The Government has accepted the recommendation of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration to increase the pay of doctors and dentists by 4%. The uplift to the value of GDS contracts will be net of pay and expenses.