NHS care in Wales under threat, dentists warn

The Welsh General Dental Practice Committee’s vice-chairs Dan Cook and Katie Davis have warned the Welsh Government that increases in the next dental contract will be insufficient to provide better pay because additional money could be absorbed by the costs of running a practice, Nation Cymru has reported.

The warning was issued ahead of negotiations with the Welsh Government over the 2026–27 General Dental Services contract, which governs the provision of NHS dental care.

Cook and Davis stated: “We are calling for a clear approach that recognises both workforce pay and the realities of running a dental practice.

“This would allow practices to remain financially viable while rewarding the people who deliver NHS care.”

“NHS dentistry cannot remain sustainable if practices are expected to do more while receiving less in real terms.

“If government expects practices to deliver more, it must provide the means to do so.

“Our message to Welsh Government is straightforward: investment in NHS dentistry must reflect the realities of providing care.”

The Welsh Government responded: “We will start the annual negotiation process with the Welsh General Dental Practice Committee and NHS representatives soon, to facilitate our annual investment in NHS dental services to support patients and the dental profession.”