To ask the Minister of Health (i) to detail any plans he has for renegotiating the Rebuilding Support Scheme for dentists, given the British Dental Association’s rejection of the latest offer; (ii) for his assessment of corresponding dental fee enhancements that have been introduced in other UK jurisdictions; and (iii) for his assessment of dentistry in Northern Ireland currently.

Whilst engagement continues with the British Dental Association (BDA) and the effectiveness of the measures remains under review, there are no plans to renegotiate the Rebuilding Support Scheme (RSS). As outlined in the establishment of the new financial scheme, I have committed that any available surplus will be invested in the sector. Officials continue to discuss investment options with the BDA.

All UK jurisdictions face different challenges in addressing the backlog of dental need and in terms of their own financial circumstances. Each has its own contractual arrangements and budgetary conditions. Officials in my Department have engaged with their counterparts in other jurisdictions throughout the pandemic, and all approaches were considered before taking a decision on the approach appropriate for Northern Ireland.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, General Dental Services (GDS) in Northern Ireland faced many challenges, however access to treatment was good and the general oral health of the population was improving. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on capacity within GDS, with dentists currently completing around 59% of their pre-pandemic activity in Q4 2021/22.

Recent easing of Infection Prevention and Control procedures within all health care settings, along with the introduction of the RSS in April 2022 is expected to further increase capacity within practices resulting in improved access. Additional investment has been committed for the first quarter of 2022/23 to further support dental practices, with dental fees being enhanced by 25% as part of the RSS to reflect the ongoing pandemic pressures practices are facing.

However, I do not underestimate the impact that the last two years will have had on the dental health of the population nor the repercussions this will have over the coming years.

My Department is committed to working with the BDA and other organisations to develop further strategies - including the negotiation of a new GDS contract - that will mitigate the impact of the pandemic on dental health over time, and build a sustainable, financially viable future for GDS.