DHSC told us that even with these uplifts to UDA rates, there is still a large gap between what dentists are earning through NHS work compared with the larger amounts they can make in the private sector.80 It described this as the “fundamental problem” facing NHS dentistry and commented that it was perfectly reasonable for dentists to choose to go down private routes 75 C&AG’s Report, Figure 1 76 FND0007, see page 3 77 Q 26 78 C&AG’s Report, Figure 11 and para 2.10 79 Q 26 80 Q 13 17 given th...

DHSC told us that even with these uplifts to UDA rates, there is still a large gap between what dentists are earning through NHS work compared with the larger amounts they can make in the private sector.80 It described this as the “fundamental problem” facing NHS dentistry and commented that it was perfectly reasonable for dentists to choose to go down private routes 75 C&AG’s Report, Figure 1 76 FND0007, see page 3 77 Q 26 78 C&AG’s Report, Figure 11 and para 2.10 79 Q 26 80 Q 13 17 given the greater financial incentives that exist.81 It said that whilst there is plenty that can be done in terms of the detail of the dental contract, the bigg Type: conclusion | Number: 27 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: 6.5 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 6.6 Incentivising dentists to carry out more NHS work and improving the retention of NHS dentists is a key part of the government’s ambition to reform the dental contract. This work is underway but wi