14 MAR 2025

In response to Keir Starmer’s announcement to abolish NHS England, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, has issued a statement outlining concerns about what this could mean for NHS dentistry.

With NHS dentistry already in crisis, there are serious fears that this restructure could further weaken leadership in dental public health and push oral healthcare even further down the priority list. His response highlights the urgent need for a clear plan to protect access to NHS dentistry and ensure a sustainable future for patient care.

Dr Carter says: "The Prime Minister’s decision to abolish NHS England marks a seismic shift in healthcare governance. While we support efforts to cut bureaucracy and direct resources to frontline care, there is an urgent need for clarity on what this means for NHS dentistry.

"For too long, NHS dentistry has been in crisis. Millions struggle to access care, worsening oral health inequalities and piling pressure on GPs and A&E. This restructure must not push dentistry even further to the margins.

"The abolition of Public Health England saw dental public health teams fragmented and diminished. Now, with NHS England gone, the risk is even greater – there is no strong, coordinated leadership to prioritise prevention and protect the nation’s oral health. If NHS dentistry continues its terminal decline, investment in dental public health becomes more critical than ever.

"The government’s pledges – extra urgent dental appointments and supervised toothbrushing – are welcome but do not address the root problem. Without a long-term, sustainable plan for NHS dentistry, these are just sticking plasters on a system in freefall.

"Policymakers must act. We need real investment, a workforce plan that attracts and retains NHS dentists, and a system built on prevention. If this reform is to mean anything for patients, it must deliver a dental service that is fit for the future – one that guarantees access, affordability, and continuity of care for everyone."