The government has revealed its 10 Year Health Plan which details reforms across the NHS, including dentistry. It has acknowledged the record low levels of patient satisfaction with the NHS and, on 3 July, announced its plans to transform the NHS dental system.
In its Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England, the government announced its strategy to build a service which is more attractive to, and values, dental professionals, and which will provide more readily accessible, high-quality care to those who need it.
Its three key areas of focus across the NHS are shifts from:
Specifically pertaining to dentistry, there are a number of steps the government plans to take. Its first step being stabilising NHS dentistry by prioritising urgent care. It notes that capacity for 700,000 additional appointments have already been created over the last year.
In order to address challenges with access to NHS dentistry and so-called dental deserts, the plan now makes it a requirement for newly qualified dentists to work for the NHS for a minimum period (of at least 3 years).
The plan highlights that amongst children (ages 5-9), tooth extraction is the leading cause of hospitalisation. As such, prevention schemes, like the supervised toothbrushing programme and the use of fluoride varnish and fissure sealants, will be expanded in order to significantly reduce decay. Additionally, by making better use of the wider dental workforce, especially dental therapists, the plan aims to improve access to dental care for children – this will include a new approach to up-skilling, enabling dental professionals to work to their full clinical potential.
Community water fluoridation will also be expanded in the north east of England as part of the government’s plan. This will be carried out from 2028, with the aim to reach 1.6 million people by April 2030. Existing water fluoridation schemes will also be refurbished in the north east, west midlands, and east of England – benefiting a further 6 million people.
The government will work with dentists to improve the dental contract. This will mean that, from the financial year 2026-2027, payments will better reflect the cost of treating patients with higher needs and will reduce low-value activity. This planned change aims to improve access to care and ensure that dentists are rewarded fairly for the care they provide. However, within the plan, the government acknowledges that even greater change is needed – stating that the process of fundamental contract reform will begin this year.
Opportunities for dental care professionals (including dental therapists and dental nurses) to work as part of neighbourhood teams will be available through the Neighbourhood Health Service. This aims to maximise capacity, whilst providing integrated and proactive care to meet individual needs. As a part of this, check-ups, treatments, and referrals could be undertaken alongside community oral health education.
As published in Dentistry, the profession is already responding, including Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association, who said:
‘NHS dentistry couldn’t be better placed to deliver the shift from sickness to prevention, from hospital to community. But we can’t make this service fit for the future while a failed contract remains in place.
‘Ministers have made the right diagnosis here, but we can’t wait a decade for them to write the prescription.
‘[The tie-in] won’t stop a single experienced dentist walking away from the NHS in despair. The focus must be ensuring the next generation sees this service as a place they’d choose to build a career.’
> Since you’re here, why not read about Dental professionals working in fast food due to current UK exams?
Main image credit: Unsplash
