NHS Dental Recovery Plan Fails to Deliver Promised Improvements

A £200 million initiative to boost access to NHS dental care falls short, with fewer new patients treated and key measures delayed.

The National Audit Office reports that the plan to provide 1.5 million additional NHS dental treatments by March 2025 is not on track to meet its goals.
Despite financial incentives like 'golden hello' bonuses and patient premiums, fewer new NHS patients have been treated compared to the same period last year.
Key elements of the plan, such as mobile dental vans and recruitment of dentists to underserved areas, have faced significant delays, with only one dentist receiving the £20,000 bonus so far.
NHS dentistry remains in crisis, with treatment levels still below pre-pandemic figures and many patients unable to access care, particularly in rural and disadvantaged areas.
The government acknowledges the shortcomings of the recovery plan and has pledged further reforms, including 700,000 additional urgent appointments and contract changes to improve access.