MS, Cabinet Secretary for
Health and Social Care: I have today laid the regulations for the new general
dental services contract arrangements (external link), which
will mean fairer access to NHS dentistry for people in Wales.
The new contract will be introduced from 1 April and put people's
oral health needs and prevention at the heart of the new
system.
This is the first major reform of the dental contract in 20
years. It replaces the units of dental activity model, which
incentivises the recall of healthy patients every six months, to
a model which better supports the prevention of oral disease and
treatment for those who need it most.
General dental services play a critical role in supporting
population oral health and ensuring access to preventative and
treatment services. Reform of the 2006 dental contract will help
strengthen NHS dentistry, improve access for the public, and
better align services with population need, prevention, and
quality of care.
The new contract is the result of extensive negotiations and
development work between the government, representatives of the
dental profession, and the NHS. We have consulted on the
contract, listened carefully to the feedback received and made a
series of important changes as a result, including strengthening
access and continuity of care.
The new arrangements will mean people who need active treatment
or support to maintain their oral health will be seen more
regularly. Under the new system:
- Practices will receive payments to continue seeing existing
patients for recall appointments, giving dentists the freedom to
monitor oral health based on individual risk and need.
- The new contract arrangements will see increased NHS payments
to dentists, with general fee rates rising to £150 per hour.
- People who pay for NHS treatment will have their costs capped
at a maximum of £384, regardless of how much care they
need.
About half the Welsh population is exempt from paying NHS dental
charges, including children under 18, pregnant women, hospital
dental patients, and people receiving certain benefits. The
low-income scheme will continue to provide help with dental
costs.
The reforms also include increased funding for dentists to take
part in accelerated cluster development, which are designed to
incentivise strengthened local NHS provision and more
preventative care.
The new contract is a significant milestone for NHS dentistry in
Wales, representing fairer, more responsive services for the
public and the profession.
