In the written evidence submitted to our inquiry, concerns included that: • UDA rates are linked to the figures used in 2006 which no longer reflect current need.13 Rates vary from practice to practice so dentists in the same location may be paid different amounts for the same work; 14 • the contract is rooted in ineffective incentives that make it easier to complete targets by seeing patients with lower levels of need, while making high–needs patients the least “welcome”; 15 and • the overal...

In the written evidence submitted to our inquiry, concerns included that: • UDA rates are linked to the figures used in 2006 which no longer reflect current need.13 Rates vary from practice to practice so dentists in the same location may be paid different amounts for the same work; 14 • the contract is rooted in ineffective incentives that make it easier to complete targets by seeing patients with lower levels of need, while making high–needs patients the least “welcome”; 15 and • the overall level of funding means that NHS rates are not competitive with the private sector. The resulting contraction in NHS coverage leads to a “feedback loop” Type: conclusion | Number: 8 | 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 retentio