Responding to the publication of the latest NHS dental statistic annual report for England for 2023/24 by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) Ruth Rankine, director of primary care at the NHS Confederation, said:

“There are many positives signs in the latest dental statistics, including a welcome year-on-year rise in courses of dental treatment and staffing levels.

“Our members have long been concerned about the crisis across England’s dental sector caused by historic underinvestment and the decline in NHS dentist numbers, with the pandemic exacerbating these problems. So it is good to see some signs of recovery.

“Integrated Care Systems (ICS) support the government’s commitment to improving access and services for patients, and particularly the focus on children, who can often end up in A&E when they can’t access dental care.

“But unfortunately boosting capacity is a marathon not a sprint, with activity and staffing levels still mostly below pre-pandemic levels. Our members know that a lot more work is needed to improve performance and take advantage of the opportunities to tackle health inequalities and keep patients out of hospital.  

“The Labour government has made tackling the dental crisis a priority which is very welcome. But it will need to grasp the nettle and reform the dental contract to make NHS work attractive to dentists.”