NHSE have announced a u-turn on their stance regarding the Government's 700 000 Dental appointments manifesto pledge. It had been the case that for these appointments to count they needed to be for urgent care despite many ICBs knowing that needs for urgent care were being substantially met and this delegated target did not fit with their population needs; a view further backed up by the profession. It was also advised such arbitrary targets could cause subsequent reduction in routine dental care availability and scope of other worthy local initiatives given that yet again there was no additional budget attached for the extra mandated urgent care appointments. ICBs having to find the funds to cover yet another government initiative at short notice and irrespective of local initiatives which could have taken place.

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Finally it seems NHSE have seen sense, albeit when we are a mere step from the finish line. Is this because they have seen unless they count a broader range of appointments they will not meet the promised total and the government and will be left red faced on yet another dental commitment - thus a figure fudge was required? Irrespective of underlying political pressure, it does at least mean commissioning teams have their hands now untied again to assess their local population need and perhaps use budgets more effectively for their populations.

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Practices who signed up to the Urgent Care Incentive scheme will be relieved to hear that the agreements will be honoured as per targets.

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We now await the next “initiative” which seems to be already hinted at within the NHSE statement, and hope any consultation/feedback from the profession is more carefully considered in future.

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