The National Audit Office has reported that the £200 million dental recovery package is falling short, highlighting that the targets set by the government for NHS dentistry are unlikely to be met this year. The plan aimed for a significant increase in dental treatments and the rollout of mobile units to improve access, but progress has been slow and targets still leave the NHS below pre-pandemic activity levels.
Despite the government offering increased payments and incentives for NHS dentists, the National Audit Office points out that the actual number of treatments remains stagnant, indicating that merely enhancing financial incentives has not been sufficient to encourage dentists back into NHS work. With more than 20% of dentists focusing solely on private practice, systemic issues in NHS dentistry continue to persist.
Officials have acknowledged that while there has been a slight increase in dental practices accepting new NHS patients, this has not translated into an increase in treatments. The absence of operational mobile dental vans is a critical gap in the plan, as these units were envisioned as a solution for areas suffering from poor access to dental care.
The NAO's report emphasizes long-standing problems within NHS dentistry, urging the new government that emerges from the upcoming election to take these issues seriously. Long-term strategies like the £20,000 golden hello for attracting dentists and initiatives for children’s dental health are essential to address both immediate and future challenges in the sector.
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