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<p>In July 2022, we announced a package of reforms to improve access to National Health
Service dentistry, which outlined the steps we are taking to meet oral health need
and increase access to dental care. The changes that have been implemented include
improvements to ensure dentists are remunerated more fairly for more complex work.</p><p>From
1 April 2023, responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the
needs of the local population has been delegated to all integrated care boards (ICBs)
across England. ICBs are responsible for having local processes in place to involve
patient groups, and for undertaking oral health needs assessments, to identify areas
of need and determine the priorities for investment. Coventry and Warwickshire ICB
has proposals that include remobilisation of some dental activity and procurement
of new services. The West Midlands ICB has increased investment through various initiatives
to support recovery of NHS dental services.</p><p>The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan,
published on 30 June 2023, sets out the steps the National Health Service and its
partners need to take to deliver an NHS workforce that meets the changing needs of
the population over the next 15 years. These include a 40% increase to dentistry undergraduate
training places by 2031/32.</p><p>But we know we need to do more, and that there are
some areas where access is particularly problematic. We are working on our Dentistry
Recovery Plan which will address how we continue to improve access, particularly for
new patients; and how we make NHS work more attractive to ensure NHS dentists are
incentivised to deliver more NHS care.</p>
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