The British Dental Association has greeted clarity from the Department of Health that fundamental reform will take place before the next election.

In response to questions from the Health and Social Care Committee Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock said ‘we are absolutely clear we need to fix this before the end of this Parliament…Fundamental contract reform has to happen within this Parliament.'

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Echoing comments made by Wes Streeting in January that NHS dentistry was at ‘death's door', the Minister acknowledged the need for urgency, stating the service was ‘on a burning platform.'

The 10 Year Health Plan for England had spelled out that ‘by 2035, the NHS dental system will be transformed.' The BDA had warned this risked being too late a date to save the struggling service.

Changes put out to consultation by government have been characterised by the BDA as positive interim measures, but not the systemic change required to restore access to care or provide the service with a sustainable future.

Minister Kinnock stated that the process for fundamental reform would commence once the allocations from the Comprehensive Spending Review are made, by the end of summer at the very latest.

Shiv Pabary, Chair of the British Dental Association's General Dental Practice Committee said: ‘Today the Government set out what's been missing to date: a deadline to save NHS dentistry. But there's still no evidence the resources will be brought to bear to restore care to millions.

‘NHS dentistry remains at death's door. We are ready to work at pace with Ministers to ensure the reform and funding are in place to give this service a future.'