Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to set a clear timetable for confirming and implementing the final proposals arising from the NHS dental contract quality and payment reforms 2026 consultation; and if he will publish a deadline by which (a) NHS dental professionals, (b) commissioners and (c) patients can expect both the Department’s response and the commencement of the resulting reforms.

We recently held a public consultation on a package of changes to improve access to, and improve the quality of, National Health Service dentistry, which will deliver better care for the diverse oral health needs of people across England. The consultation closed on 19 August.

The Government is considering the outcomes of the consultation and will publish a response in due course, with the expectation of implementing the reforms from April 2026.