Dental surgeons respond to new Nuffield Trust analysis

Responding to new analysis from the Nuffield Trust showing a continued decline in the number of dental practices providing NHS care, Professor Martyn Cobourne, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) said:

“We have consistently called for fundamental reform of the NHS dental contract, and the Nuffield Trust’s analysis reinforces the need to move beyond incremental changes. We need a sustainable NHS dental service that improves access for patients and puts prevention at the centre.

“While the changes already introduced to the contract are welcome, they must be part of wider reform that addresses the factors driving practices and clinicians away from NHS dentistry. The Government should now deliver the next phase of its promised dental contract reforms and set out a clear route to sustainable NHS dentistry and improved access for patients.

“Regular NHS dental care helps prevent disease and identify problems early. When patients cannot access care, conditions can become more serious and require more complex treatment, placing additional pressure on already stretched hospital services and patients facing longer waits for the care they need.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Read the report: The great extraction: the changing state of NHS general dental services in England | Nuffield Trust
2. The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is committed to enabling dentists and specialists to provide patients with the highest possible standards of practice and care.  
3. The Royal College of Surgeons of England provides world-class education, assessment, and development to 30,000 surgeons, dental professionals, and members of the wider surgical and dental care teams, at all stages of their careers. Our vision is to see excellent surgical care for everyone. We do this by setting professional standards, facilitating research and championing the best outcomes for patients.
4. For more information, please contact the RCS England press office: telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054/6047; email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk; out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.