The House of Commons Health Select Committee published its report on Dental Services on 2 July 2008. This Command Paper sets out the interim Government response to Health Select Committee report on dental services.
The new dental contractual arrangements are seen by the government as providing a better basis for Primary Care Trusts to commission services, the new system provides them with the power and flexibility to meet the needs of local people. The government accept the view that progress on improving access has been disappointing to date. Consultation with professional and patient groups will review how, both nationally and locally, we and the NHS can achieve the maximum benefits for patients reform.
Strategic Health Authorities should consider the high-impact changes that will most rapidly improve access to NHS dentistry. This work will be completed later this autumn.
The response addresses the conclusions and recommendations in the same numerical orderas they appear on pages 61-66 of the report. Some are grouped together where they respond to the same issue. Elsewhere there are cross-references to previous responses.
