Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria his Department has used to identify which areas are in greatest need of increased numbers of NHS dental professionals; and how many of those areas are in the (a) Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, (b) Tees Valley Mayoral Authority Area and (c) North East.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population is delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. Dental practices in specific areas, determined locally as experiencing significant dental pressures due to workforce challenges impacting patient access, were invited by their ICBs to express interest in participating in the scheme and were notified of the outcome of their application via their ICB.

ICBs have started to recruit posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.

As of 22 September 2025, in England there were 97 dentists in post with a further eight dentists who have been recruited but are yet to start in post under this scheme. A further 224 posts are currently being advertised.

NHS England has published findings from its dental workforce survey, including national and regional vacancy rates. The most recent publication reports the position as of the end of December 2024. This is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/dental-workforce/