With the Welsh Government set to outline its response to a consultation on fundamental reform of NHS dentistry in the Senedd tomorrow [1], the British Dental Association Cymru has said Ministers must show they are willing to reflect the weight of opinion from both the public and the dental profession.
The First Minister for Wales has previously described the consultation as the biggest response to a consultation in the history of devolution. The BDA understands over 6,000 individuals and organisations took part. [2]
The BDA has been pressing for changes to a wide range of elements of the reform package, including proposals to shift “green” [3] patients from practice lists to a centralised database where they would be allocated to different practices on a first come first served basis. This would undermine continuity of care and spell the end of the ‘family dentist’, with parents and children at risk of being split up and allocated to different providers.
Russell Gidney, Chair of the British Dental Association’s Welsh General Dental Practice Committee said: “This consultation has generated among the largest response of any in the history of devolution. It’s easy to understand why. NHS dentistry has ceased to exist for thousands of families across Wales, and they want it to have a future. The Welsh Government must show they responded to the weight of opinion, from both the public and this profession. That they have been willing to listen on material risks to the future of NHS dentistry in Wales.”
References
[1] See Agenda for Plenary on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, 13.30 Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care: Reforming the Dental Contract: Next Steps
[2] Freedom of information request to Welsh Government indicates 6258 total responses, with 5682 from individuals, 22 on behalf another individual, 471 from a dental professional, 67 from a non-dental member of health or care workforce sharing professional views, 15 from organisations. Only 1 user did not identify themselves.
[3] Green patient is defined as examined by a dentist and deemed orally fit with no need for treatment and at low risk for disease development according to the ACORN assessment.
