Nuffield Trust response to Labour dentistry analysis and rescue plan

Commenting on Labour’s rescue plan for NHS dentistry and new analysis, Nuffield Trust Chief Executive Thea Stein said:

“The Labour party are right to highlight the slow decay of NHS dentistry. Our own research suggests that NHS dentistry has likely gone for good, driven by decades of policy neglect and a drift to the private sector, which has not been resisted by successive governments of all colours.

“The measures presented in the Labour plan all make good sense, and our own report recommends a similar focus on the most vulnerable and on reforming contracts. But piecemeal measures alone are unlikely to stem the decline we are seeing in NHS dentistry.

“Even with these changes, it is likely that a future government will need to re-evaluate the offer for NHS care – either through a massive expansion costing billions, or through explicitly reducing it to a basic core service for all and free dental care for the most in need. This will require political bravery and a willingness to face up to the fact that the dream of universal dentistry has been surpassed by the nightmare of dental deserts.”