The Issue
I fear we are about to lose the NHS contract in Wales and likely to follow into England. I am campaigning to protect this vital service and ensure our voices are heard.
The Welsh Government has released a consultation document that is so complex, even dentists struggle to understand it. They have set a deadline of 19th June 2025 for responses, yet they have made no real effort to involve patients or dental professionals in the process.
The document is lengthy and difficult to interpret. Below is a summary of what some of us believe it says. Please read it and feel free to copy and paste any relevant information when responding to the government consultation (see link below). If you support an extension for public consultation or wish to renegotiate any terms, please sign this petition also.
- Splitting family dental care: Parents and children will no longer be able to receive care from the same dental practice if their needs differ, disrupting dental relationships and exacerbating waiting lists.
- Routine dental visits will become impossible, severely hindering the early detection of cancers and other diseases, as well as their subsequent treatment.
- Punishing patients and practices who have changed their approach to prevention-based dentistry in favour of bringing back “drill and fill” culture whilst employing hospital style waiting lists which are worsening access to dental care.
- The contract proposes utilizing Community Dental Services (CDS) to manage dental needs. However, CDS is already underfunded and understaffed by hundreds of millions of pounds, making it unfit for purpose.
- Additionally, the contract has not undergone sufficient independent legal review, leading to significant inconsistencies in expectations for dental practices and uncertainty around the penalties they may face as a result.
- Patients may find it difficult to understand how much they will be charged under the new contract.
The Government document link is below. Please read it and respond (section “Ready to begin” – respond button) and sign this petition to have your say.
Me and the NHS
I love being a dentist. The NHS means a lot to me. I am a General Dental Practitioner and a practice
owner with a PGCert in Dental Law and Ethics. I have worked within the Welsh UDA contracts, private dental contracts, mixed contracts, the NHS England UDA contracts, NHS children’s exempt only contracts and contract reforms since its birth.
Working in England as an associate
My experience as an associate dentist working in England, I attempted to get a private job closer to
my son in the south of England where I faced some racism. In the end, I found an NHS practice in
England that allowed me to obtain my NHS England performer number. It was a fantastic experience
working with the English NHS dental staff and patients.
Boxing and the NHS dentistry
It is my hobby, passion, release and our community hub. Similar to working in the NHS the amateur boxing clubs do not have very much funding and they serve the local communities in a good way.
I, therefore, urge you to sign this petition. Stand with us to call for an urgent immediate return to “Pre-Covid GDS Contract Reform – Version 1” contract to minimize dentists leaving the NHS in Wales. Let’s value children and vulnerable patients dental care, improve patient care, access for new and emergency patients and safeguard our dental services for the future.
Sign to support a better NHS dental health care service.
More information is being released onto social media platforms for any questions people may have. Instagram @harj_singhrao