For the first time, from this summer, dentists will be paid for the quality of the treatment they give rather than the number of treatments provided, Health Minister Lord Howe announced today.
Sixty two dental practices have been selected to trial a new dental contract that will help improve outcomes for patients. The trials are being carefully designed to improve the quality of patient care and increase access to NHS dental services with the added objective of improving the oral health of children.This is part of the Coalition Government’s wider plans to modernise the NHS with a relentless focus on improving quality of care and patient outcomes.The new contract will be based around capitation, registration and quality. This means that, for the first time, dentists will be rewarded for the quality of care they deliver for patients rather than the number of treatments carried out.A new emphasis on quality – and guidelines on how to deliver it – will support dentists to improve the oral health of their patients, while the focus on registration will give patients the security of continuing care.Three different models will be piloted across England starting in the summer. Each model will be slightly different in order to provide information and evidence on various aspects of the proposals; this will help better inform the development of the new national contract.Health Minister Lord Howe said:“We all want good teeth and good oral hygiene. That’s why we want our dentists to get paid for the quality of treatment they provide rather than for the number of treatments, as is the case now.“This approach is not only better for patients, but also a better use of NHS resources.“It is important that we take our time to get this absolutely right. We want our reforms to give dentists the encouragement they are looking for to provide a service that meets the needs of today’s population, and which fosters positive habits from an early age.”Professor Jimmy Steele, who was a member of the National Steering Group which developed the proposals, said:“The Adult Dental Health Survey, published last month, showed further improvements in oral health in England. We now need an NHS dental service to match; one that maintains good oral health as well as providing appropriate treatment.“The dental contract pilots will explore how best to make this a reality but it is important to get it right, so time spent setting this up properly is time well spent.”Notes to Editors:1. For general media queries or to request an interview, please contact the Department of Health press office on 0207 210 52212. The pilots are scheduled to begin in the summer.3. The pilot sites were selected from a large number of dental practices that applied.  A list of successful applicants is attached.4. The publication, NHS Dental Contract: Proposals for Pilots, is available at:http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_122660SHA / PCT / Practice name / Location / AreaEast Midlands, Derbyshire County, The Hasland Dental Practice, Chesterfield
East Midlands, Northamptonshire, The Shires Dental Centre, Kettering
East Midlands, Nottinghamshire County Hall and Purchase, Mansfield
East Midlands, Nottingham City, The Smile Centre, Nottingham
East Midlands, Leicestershire County & Rutland, ADP Melton Mowbray, Melton Mowbray
East Midlands, Lincolnshire, Oasis Dental Care Ltd, Lincoln
East of England, Norfolk, J.C. Holmes BDS Swaffham, Norfolk
East of England, South West Essex, Basildon Town Centre Dental Clinic, Basildon
East of England, North East Essex, Country Park Dental Practice Ltd, Colchester
East of England, Cambridgeshire, ADP Cambridge, Cambridge
East of England, Peterborough, DS Dental Surgery, Peterborough
East of England, Mid Essex, Danbury Dental Group, Danbury Chelmsford
East of England, Great Yarmouth & Waveney, Ormesby Dental Surgery Ormesby, Great Yarmouth
East of England, South East Essex, The Benfleet Dental Clinic Benfleet, Essex
London Redbridge, Woodford Dental Care, Woodford Green, London
London, Lewisham, Crofton Park, London
London, Bromley, Manor Park Dental Practice, West Wickham, Kent
London, Hammersmith and Fulham, Smile For Life Dental Clinic, London
London, Southwark, Camberwell Dental Care, London
London, Greenwich, S3 Dental Eltham, London
London, Islington, Gentle Dental Care, London
London, Croydon, Lancaster House Dental Practice, London
London, Lambeth, Knightshill Dental Practice, London
North East, County Durham, Stanley Dental, Stanley County Durham
North East, Northumberland, Amble Dental Practice Morpeth, Northumberland
North East, North Tees, Grange Dental Practice, Cleveland
North East, Middlesbrough, Hemlington Dental Surgery, Middlesbrough
North East, Sunderland, Oasis Dental Care Ltd, Sunderland
North East, Redcar & Cleveland, Coatham Dental Practice, Redcar
North East, Gateshead, New Biggin Villa Family Dental Clinic, Gateshead
North East, Newcastle South, View Dental Centre East Denton, Tyne and Wear
North West, Salford Dentist, 4 U LTD, Eccles
North West, Tameside with Glossop Haughton, Green Dental Practice, Manchester
North West, Manchester, Elaine Hawthorn and Associates, Manchester
North West, East Lancashire, Dentistry For All Nelson, Lancashire
North West, Blackburn with Darwen, The Dental Centre, Blackburn
North West, Central Lancashire, St Georges Dental Practice Chorley, Lancashire
North West, Oldham, Moorside Dental Practice, Oldham
North West, Blackpool, Oasis Dental Care Ltd, Blackpool
North West, Bolton, Oasis Dental Care Ltd, Bolton
North West, Western Cheshire, Raby Road Dental Centre Neston, Merseyside
North West, Cumbria Kirkgate, Smiles Cockermouth, Cumbria
North West, Wirral Thornhedge, Dental Surgery, Wirral
South Central, Buckinghamshire, Valley DC Ltd, High Wycombe
South East Coast, Surrey, Weybridge Dental Practice, Weybridge, Surrey
South East Coast, West Sussex, Oasis Dental Care Ltd, East Grinstead
South West, Devon, Castle View Dental Practice, Devon
South West, South Gloucestershire, Apple Dental Practice, Bristol
South West, Wiltshire, The Market Place Dental Practice, Devizes, Wiltshire
South West, Somerset, Taunton CDC, Taunton
West Midlands, Herefordshire, S Owen & Associates, Leominster
West Midlands, Dudley, South Road Dental Surgery, Stourbridge
West Midlands, Telford and Wrekin, Stirchley Dental Practice Stirchley, Telford
West Midlands, Heart of Birmingham, Hillbrook Dental Health Centre, Birmingham
West Midlands, Solihull, Solihull Dental Centre, Solihull
West Midlands, Birmingham, East & North Henry Road Dental Practice, Birmingham
West Midlands, Sandwell, West Park Dental, Smethwick
West Midlands, South Birmingham, University Dental Centre, Birmingham
Yorkshire & the Humber, Doncaster, Genix Healthcare, Mexborough
Yorkshire & the Humber, Wakefield District, The Mount Dental Practice, Wakefield
Yorkshire & the Humber, Bradford & Airedale, Rayner Dental Practice, Bradford
Yorkshire & the Humber, Leeds, Seacroft Dental Practice, Leeds