This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament

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Petition Increase funding to ensure all children in England have access to an NHS dentist

I think the Government needs to increase funding for NHS dentistry to ensure that all children have access to a local NHS dentist. Children should be accepted at any NHS dentist regardless of waiting lists or places available.

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I have recently been in the position where I have had to fund private dental care for myself and my children. I called around every dentist in my local area. None of which are currently taking on NHS dental patients. Dentists didn't even have waiting lists to be added on to. However, they were all more than happy for me to pay for private care and be seen within a week. I don't believe that children should be put on waiting lists for NHS dental care. They should be accepted automatically.

This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months

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MPs investigate access to NHS dentists

A group of MPs called the Health and Social Care Committee are looking into NHS dentistry, following a survey that showed 90% of practices across the UK were not accepting new adult NHS patients.

The Committee is considering issues including:

  • How the Government and NHS England can improve access to NHS dental services
  • The need for further reform of the NHS dental contract
  • The training, recruitment and retention of NHS dentists
  • How to address inequalities in accessing NHS dental services

Read the Committee's press notice announcing this work for more information.

What happens next?

The Committee is going to conduct oral evidence sessions where they will hear from experts in the sector as well as Government and NHS officials.

An evidence session is a hearing where MPs ask key experts, such as Ministers or campaigners, questions on a particular topic. These experts are called "witnesses" and they help MPs to gain a deeper understanding of the topic.

The Committee will then consider all the evidence it has taken and publish a report of its findings with recommendations to the Government on any changes that might be needed.

For more information about the inquiry, visit the Committee's inquiry page.

What is the Health and Social Care Committee?

The Health and Social Care Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that conduct inquiries into issues in Health and Social Care in the UK.

The Health and Social Care Committee is a select committee.

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Government announces plan to recover and reform NHS dentistry

The Government has set out a new plan to recover and reform NHS Dentistry. On 7 February 2024, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Victoria Atkins MP, announced the Government's new plan in the House of Commons, and this was discussed by MPs.

What measures has the Government announced?

The actions the Government has announced include:

  • Offering dentists additional payments for seeing and treating patients that haven't been seen in over two years
  • Increasing the minimum payment that dentists receive for delivering NHS treatments
  • Deploying dental vans to more isolated, rural and coastal areas which will offer check-ups and simple treatments
  • Launching a consultation on expanding water fluoridation

Find out more about the Government's plans.

What are Ministerial statements?

Ministerial statements are a way for Ministers to bring an important matter to the attention of the House.

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