UK Dental Recovery Plan Declared a Total Failure by MPs

The Public Accounts Committee finds the 2024 initiative worsened NHS dental access, with systemic reform urgently needed to address the crisis.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has officially deemed the 2024 Dental Recovery Plan a 'comprehensive failure,' citing worsening access to NHS dentistry.
Key initiatives, including the £88 million New Patient Premium and the 'golden hello' recruitment scheme, fell short, with fewer new patients treated and only 20% of expected dentists recruited.
Mobile dental vans, a cornerstone of the plan, have been abandoned, further exacerbating access issues for underserved communities.
Current NHS dental funding and contracts are sufficient for only half of England's population to access care over a two-year period, with vulnerable groups disproportionately affected.
Satisfaction with NHS dentistry has plummeted to a record low of 20%, as calls grow for fundamental reforms to address systemic flaws and restore universal access.