TCHSCC requests for NHS England to set out the additional steps to secure sustainable dental services

The Commons Health and Social Care Committee (TCHSCC) is requesting for NHS England to set out the additional steps to secure efficient and sustainable dental services, due to the concern over the lack of plan regarding the return of dental services in England. The Committee also requests for clarity about how dental services, while also being financially feasible, can satisfy patient demand in the safest way possible.

The Committee heard a collection of testimony showing that, as a result of COVID-19, dental services in England were severely disrupted, including the estimation that over 8 million dental treatments were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Eddie Crouch, BDA Chair, stated: “Dentistry effectively ceased to exist under lockdown. We are still a long way from normal service levels. Access remains a huge challenge for millions. So, it’s only right that officials show they appreciate the challenges we now face. There is an opportunity here to work with the profession to develop a plan that meets patient needs for years to come and moves us away from a discredited system. Sticking plaster policies will not get us through this. We need a real willingness to move on from over a decade of failed contracts and underinvestment.”