On Thursday 3 July 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting unveiled the government’s ambitious 10-Year Health Plan for the NHS. This comprehensive strategy, described as fundamentally “rewiring” the health service, aims to shift care from hospitals into the community, accelerate digital transformation, and prioritise prevention over treatment, with significant implications for dental professionals across the UK.
Speaking at the launch, Prime Minister Starmer emphasised the critical need for reform, stating: “The NHS should be there for everyone, whenever they need it. But we inherited a health system in crisis, addicted to a sticking plaster approach, and unable to face up to the challenges we face now, let alone in the future. That ends now. Because it’s reform or die. Our 10 Year Health Plan will fundamentally rewire and future-proof our NHS so that it puts care on people’s doorsteps, harnesses game-changing tech and prevents illness in the first place.”
In the Foreword, Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasised the critical need for reform, stating: “It is no exaggeration to say that we inherited an NHS facing the worst crisis in its history.” He added that “Our fabulous NHS staff [are] let down by endless bureaucracy. And a society that is slowly getting sicker.” The Prime Minister underscored the government’s commitment, noting: “This government was elected to deliver change. To get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future.” He acknowledged initial progress: “In our first year in government, we promised to deliver an extra two million appointments. We’ve delivered more than four million. We’ve recruited more than 1,500 newly qualified GPs, cut waiting lists, and invested in desperately needed upgrades to hospitals and GP surgeries.” However, he stressed, “But there is much more for us to do.”
Prime Minister Starmer outlined “Three fundamental shifts in how the NHS works”:
- “First, from hospital to community.” More care will be available “on your doorstep and from the comfort of your own home.” This includes making it “easier to see a GP and Neighbourhood Health Centres will be available in every community.”
- “Second, from analogue to digital.” New technology aims to “liberate staff from time-wasting admin and make booking appointments and managing your care as easy as online banking or shopping.”
- “Finally, from sickness to prevention.” The plan seeks to “reach patients earlier, to catch illness before it spreads and prevent it in the first place, by making the healthy choice the easy choice.”
Dentistry: A Key Focus within the Shifts
The plan explicitly addresses dentistry, aiming to “improve access to NHS dentistry, improve children’s oral health and increase the number of NHS dentists working in the system.” This will be achieved “by making the dental contract more attractive, and introducing tie-ins for those trained in the NHS.”
- Care Closer to Home: The Dental Dimension: The “neighbourhood health service” is central to the shift from hospital to community. Neighbourhood Health Centres will serve as a “one stop shop” for patient care and the base for multidisciplinary teams, operating “at least 12 hours a day and 6 days a week”. The plan states that dentistry will be improved within these settings.
- Expanded Scope for Dental Care Professionals (DCPs): The document highlights the broader NHS workforce strategy, which aims for a “new workforce model with staff genuinely aligned with the future direction of reform”. This includes “embracing reforms to skill mix and training to allow more clinical tasks to be performed by nurses and allied health professionals – backed by AI – liberating doctors to work to the top of their license.”
- Addressing Access and Workforce:
- Compulsory NHS Tie-in for Graduates: The plan notes that “Training a dentist costs the taxpayer up to £200,…” leading to the introduction of “tie-ins for those trained in the NHS”.
- Workforce Expansion: The plan outlines an ambition to “reduce international recruitment to less than 10% by 2035”. It also mentions that “Expansion of medical school places will be focused on widening access to talented students from underprivileged backgrounds.”
- Contractual Reform: The plan’s objective is to “make the dental contract more attractive”. The document stresses that “By 2035, the NHS dental system will be transformed, so it provides high quality care at the right time, and nobody goes without because they cannot afford it.” It further states, “We will build a service which is attractive to, and values dental care professionals. With a new dental contract at its heart, NHS dentistry will be more transparent for patients.” The current focus is to “stabilise NHS dentistry and make sure the budget we have is spent on those who need care most,” prioritising urgent care and having “already made progress this year, creating capacity for 700,000 additional urgent appointments.”
- Digital Transformation: The shift “from analogue to digital” is a core tenet, aiming for the NHS to be “the most digitally accessible health system in the world.” The NHS App will be the “front door to the NHS,” allowing patients to “book, move and cancel their appointments, and communicate with their health team, with ease.” This transformation is also seen as a route to “secure the productivity gains that will ensure the NHS’ financial sustainability.” AI is also highlighted: “we will make AI every nurse’s and doctor’s trusted assistant – saving them time and supporting them in decision making.”
Prime Minister Starmer concluded: “This is not an overnight fix, but our Plan for Change is already turning the tide on years of decline with over four million extra appointments, 1,900 more GPs, and waiting lists at their lowest level for two years. But there’s more to come. This Government is giving patients easier, quicker and more convenient care, wherever they live.” He described the plan as “radical and urgent” , aiming to “renew [the NHS] so it serves generations to come.”
Dr Kate Fabrikant, Medical Leader for Northern Europe at Haleon, commented that the “Plan represents a positive step towards shaping the future of our healthcare system. The clear emphasis on prevention is welcomed, as oral health continues to face a crisis point.”
She continued: “Our latest research has shown that three quarters of UK adults are not regularly visiting a dentist. This is having a serious impact on the nation’s oral health, with 64% of oral health professionals believing that it has worsened over the last year. Poor oral health hygiene practices at home can lead to more serious health conditions developing, putting further strain on healthcare services.
“As a champion of everyday health, Haleon is committed to working with government, industry, oral health professionals and the public to improve the understanding of effective oral care routines – a vital step towards achieving better patient outcomes. We look forward to supporting the Government in translating the ambitions of the Plan into tangible improvements for oral health across the UK.”
Plan could offer prescription to save NHS dentistry, says BDA
The British Dental Association has backed pledges in the NHS 10 Year Plan to begin work this year on fundamental reform required to restore access to care and make the struggling service sustainable longer term, but stressed real urgency is now required.
BDA Chair Eddie Crouch said: “NHS dentistry couldn’t be better placed to deliver the shift from sickness to prevention, from hospital to community. But we can’t make this service fit for the future while a failed contract remains in place. Ministers have made the right diagnosis here, but we can’t wait a decade for them to write the prescription.”
The professional body has, however, expressed concerns over plans to revive ideas championed by the last government to tie-in young dentists to the NHS for a 3-year minimum term. The overwhelming majority of young dentists already serve this period predominantly in the NHS. The BDA stress real progress hinges on promised reform to halt the flight of experienced older colleagues from the service.
Without clear action to make the service a more attractive place to work, the BDA warns this policy could prove counter-productive, and risks accelerating the drift to the private sector after the term is served. Dentist leaders note this policy cannot reasonably be imposed on those currently in dental school meaning any impact won’t be seen until 2031.
Eddie Crouch added: “This policy won’t stop a single experienced dentist walking away from the NHS in despair. The focus must be ensuring the next generation sees this service as a place they’d choose to build a career.”
ADG welcomes direction of NHS 10 Year Health Plan whilst awaiting details on how dentistry will fit into Neighbourhood Health Services
The Association of Dental Groups (ADG), the trade association representing NHS, Private and Community-Based services, welcomes today’s NHS 10 Year Health Plan announcement, noting that the broad direction is positive. However, much of the detail regarding how the new plan will impact dentistry specifically is still to be revealed, and the ADG looks forward to learning more in due course.
Neil Carmichael, Executive Chair, Association of Dental Groups, has responded to the 10-year plan, stating: “The ADG warmly welcomes the general direction of the NHS 10 year plan announced. On the whole the principles of bringing health care and treatments closer to patients’ homes is a positive one. However, our members will be keen to know where dentistry will fit into these Neighbourhood Health Services. It is crucial to understand how we can work towards a joined-up system that includes dental services. In due course, we expect to receive more detail about how the whole dental team, and by that, I mean dentists, dental therapists, hygienists and nurses, can play their part in supporting patients locally. And of course, key to enabling this will be a keen focus on shoring up the massive gap in the dental workforce which is missing over 3,000 dentists across NHS and Private services currently. The impact of the 10 year plan for dentistry will be in the detail – and as ever, the ADG is here to engage and support progress.”
Dental Protection welcomes government commitment to contract reform
Dental Protection has welcomed the Government’s commitment to fundamental contract reform and called for a clear timetable for implementation.
Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection, said: “Dental Protection has long called for systemic reforms that could improve the delivery of care for patients and safeguard the wellbeing of the dental workforce. These include GDS contract reform, expansion, and better use of the dental workforce, and improving access to care, alongside the introduction of measures that support teams to deliver optimised care and ensure appropriate remuneration.
“The commitment within the NHS 10-year plan to begin the process of fundamental contract reform is very welcome. Reform has however been long talked about without being delivered, so we will urge the Government to set a clear timetable for implementation. A realistic new model for the provision of NHS dental care is urgently required.
“We also welcome the Government’s desire to broaden the remit of dental team members such as dental therapists and dental nurses. This could utilise their skills more fully while potentially shortening waiting times for routine treatments, and freeing dentists’ time to focus on more complex procedures.
“Any expansion of team members’ roles must be underpinned by appropriate and adequate indemnity arrangements. We are committed to working with government to ensure this is fully considered.
“Despite some positive steps for dentistry, sadly an opportunity has been missed in terms of laying out a timeframe for reforming the GDC. The legislation that sets out the regulator’s powers is now long out of date and a clear commitment from the Government is needed.”
BSPD welcomes raft of child-focused measures in NHS 10 Year Health Plan
The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD), the UK’s leading expert on children and young people’s (CYP) oral health, welcomes the inclusion of a significant number of child-focused measures in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan announcement today. The plan sets out that ‘Children will be our urgent priority’ and the Society notes that this is the first time we have had a vision from the Government that lays out so many interventions to impact children’s oral health for the better, as well as improving their overall wellbeing.
With tooth extraction still the leading cause of hospital admission for children aged 5 to 9 years old – for a disease that is on the whole largely preventable – a focus on CYP’s dental care will be the starting point to putting future generations on the pathway to good oral health for a lifetime. Part of this reset includes the introduction earlier this year of the supervised toothbrushing programme, which BSPD fully supported.
Approaches such as utilising the wider dental workforce are welcomed, along with the shift towards prevention, with BSPD advising the need to ensure that evidence-based interventions are supported in order to build on the impact of the supervised toothbrushing programme. As the expert voice of children’s oral health we are ready to help shape these interventions. BSPD was particularly glad to see the inclusion of the example of the Paediatric Dentistry Advice Clinic (PDAC) model at Whittington’s Community Dental Service which has enabled children in their catchment area to get timely access to specialist-led dental care. Through the use of ‘virtual’ support to a community dental team, children can be treated within their service, preventing the need for onwards referral. This creative PDAC approach was awarded BSPD’s Outstanding Innovation of the Year 2023.
The plan to expand community water fluoridation (CWF) in the north east of England from 2028 will help 1.6 million more people benefit from yet another proven community health intervention. And BSPD would encourage the Government to support further roll outs of CWF initiatives focusing on areas where the oral health of the population is particularly poor.
Whilst the plan to expand free school meals so that all children with a parent in receipt of Universal Credit is a good step, BSPD would urge the Government to go further by allowing all primary school students to be eligible for a free school meal, so that no child in need of a healthy, nutritious meal is missed.
BSPD is encouraged by the plan’s ‘moonshot to end the obesity epidemic’ which includes restricting the advertising of junk food advertising and banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16-year-olds. Whilst interventions such as requiring reformulation within the soft drinks industry and healthy food sales reporting, will all support a healthier childhood. The Society also welcomes restrictions on the availability and advertising of tobacco and vapes which will help break long-term addiction to nicotine.
Dr Oosh Devalia, BSPD President-Elect said: “We are delighted to see such a comprehensive and creative approach to supporting children’s oral health and overall wellbeing. We must remember that the two are interconnected. We know that taking a preventative approach through supervised toothbrushing programmes, and embracing community water fluoridation can have an impact within just a few years on children’s oral health, and therefore their physical and mental wellbeing.
“The ‘moonshot to end the obesity epidemic’ initiative which will include the restriction of junk food ads and banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16-year-olds is something that BSPD has been pushing for – for years, so we must keep up the pressure to make the soft drinks industry reformulate. We know that the coming together of a spectrum of child-focused measures will support a healthier childhood. When dentistry is in the crisis that it is in today, children’s oral health becomes everyone’s business, so this joined-up approach is what we need to ensure that every child has the opportunity to have a healthy smile for life.”
Dental Dean Responds
Professor Grant McIntyre, Dean of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh’s Faculty of Dental Surgery, issued a response to the plan: “As the largest Dental faculty in the UK, we were heartened to see clear focus on improving access to dental care as part of the new Neighbourhood Health Service. We are keen to open dialogue with the government on how this can be best achieved. We are also excited by the commitment to invest in the technological infrastructure of the NHS and the rapid introduction of innovative advances, such as robotic surgery.
“Over the next few days, we will be analysing the plan and identifying areas where we can work collaboratively with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that any proposed change has patient safety, satisfaction and equity of access at the heart of the process. We know that many of our members and fellows will be crucial in delivering the plan at a local level and we stand ready to support them through this process.”
British Association of Dental Nurses welcomes plan
The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) – the professional association and independent trade union for dental nurses in the UK – acknowledges and welcomes the ambition and positive intent behind the Fit for the Future: 10 Year NHS Health Plan for England – especially its emphasis on children’s oral health, prevention and multidisciplinary, neighbourhood-based care. Dental nurses make up the largest part of the oral health care workforce and are already embedded in school programmes, care homes, community clinics and outreach initiatives, often serving the very demographics this plan seeks to help,” says BADN President Preetee Hylton RDN.
“We are trained and qualified professionals, and we are regulated by the General Dental Council (GDC). Fluoride application on the prescription of a dentist and the provision of oral health education in the community is not an emerging trend or innovative in any way – many of us are already doing this, despite receiving little structural support, recognition and remuneration. With post-registration qualifications, dental nurses have an extended scope of practice as evidenced in the GDC’s Scope of Practice guidance document.
“The existing dental contract is designed solely around dentists, yet oral health care is delivered by an oral health team. Any long-term NHS dental reform that fails to include the whole team, will fall short of its potential. Dental nurses cannot be asked to carry out more responsibility without improving their pay, their protection and the perception of their role by the public.
“This Plan refers vaguely to dental nurses leading “oral health education” but does not offer any commissioning framework, in terms of dental nurse-led prevention programmes (especially in areas of greatest need), and no funding for further training to support this. BADN would like to see further clarity and commitment to the backbone of oral health – dental nurses; if the NHS wants to build a resilient, prevention-led oral health system, it must support and invest in the entire oral health care team.
“The Plan speaks of innovation, equity and prevention – BADN welcomes the opportunity to discuss and work alongside various stakeholders and the government to ensure that dental nurses are not an afterthought but a valued and visible part of future oral healthcare, so that we all work cohesively to provide safe, effective, accessible and compassionate oral healthcare to all those in need.”
