The £200m rescue bundle to extend entry to NHS dentistry this yr just isn’t on monitor, a spending watchdog says.
The dental restoration plan revealed by the Conservative authorities in February set a goal of 1.5 million further therapies in 2024-25.
To realize that, dentists had been provided a rise in funds for seeing NHS sufferers in addition to a premium top-up fee of as much as £50 for taking over new sufferers.
Cell dental vans had been additionally on account of be rolled out to focus on the areas with the worst entry.
However the Nationwide Audit Workplace says sluggish progress means these targets for this yr will seemingly be missed.
It acknowledges the final election is an element, however says the brand new authorities should mirror on the long-standing issues in NHS dentistry.
The goal to extend the variety of therapies by 1.5 million to 37.1 million this yr would nonetheless depart the NHS beneath the exercise ranges seen in 2018-19.
And on the time it was revealed dentists criticised the dearth of ambition, saying it might not do sufficient to encourage dentists to do extra NHS work.
Greater than a fifth of dentists are thought to do solely personal work.
The plan included a £5 enhance to £28 for every unit of NHS exercise alongside a premium fee value as much as £50 to see sufferers who had not seen an NHS dentist for 2 years.
By September 2024, there had been a rise within the variety of dental practices taking over new NHS sufferers, the NAO mentioned, however this has nonetheless not led to a rise in therapies being achieved past what would have been anticipated with out the additional funds.
The NAO additionally famous no new dental vans had been in operation but – these cellular items had been seen as key a part of the answer to boosting entry within the areas most struggling.
The plan additionally included some longer-term measures, together with “golden hellos” of £20,000 to recruit dentists to work in particular areas over three years, and Smile for Life – a dental decay prevention scheme focused at younger kids.
Shawn Charlwood, of the British Dental Affiliation, mentioned the NAO report confirmed extra elementary reform of the NHS dental contract was wanted.
“We warned on the outset that this restoration plan was unworthy of the title.
“Unfunded, unambitious insurance policies didn’t make a dent in a disaster hitting thousands and thousands.”
Louise Ansari, of the affected person watchdog Healthwatch England, mentioned she agreed NHS dentistry wanted to be urgently reformed.
“Total, the NAO paints an image of delayed and confused efforts.”
Well being Minister Stephen Kinnock mentioned the federal government had inherited a restoration plan that was “not match for objective” and it might be growing additional measures to enhance entry.
“This authorities is dedicated to rebuilding dentistry, however it’ll take time,” he added.
