DHSC told us that it believed that those reforms “made a useful difference” and were a “step in the right direction”.21 We note, however, that the NAO report found that it saw no evidence of a full evaluation of these reforms.22 NHSE said that it recognised since the 2022 reforms that further reform is “absolutely fundamental”.23 The new government has also committed to contract reform.24 Given the length of time in which the dental contract has been identified as a barrier to improving NHS d...

DHSC told us that it believed that those reforms “made a useful difference” and were a “step in the right direction”.21 We note, however, that the NAO report found that it saw no evidence of a full evaluation of these reforms.22 NHSE said that it recognised since the 2022 reforms that further reform is “absolutely fundamental”.23 The new government has also committed to contract reform.24 Given the length of time in which the dental contract has been identified as a barrier to improving NHS dental access, we pressed DHSC and NHSE on when they could deliver this. DHSC said that it is not possible to give a timeframe, but that some reform is “f Type: conclusion | Number: 11 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: 1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: to be advised 1.2 To rebuild dentistry in the long term, work on the government’s ambition to reform the dental contract with a shift to focus on prevention and the retenti