11 November 2005
The government is making inroads into the shortage of NHS dentists in England, the Department of Health has said.
Health minister Rosie Winterton announced on November 9 a net increase of 1,100 full-time NHS dentists in the past year. Student numbers also increased by 189 — above the 25% target.
The government said there had been a 700,000 rise in the number of people registered with an NHS dentist in the year to October — increasing the total number to 24.4 million.
But the British Dental Association said dentists were questioning their future in the NHS as they awaited details of the new contract, to be introduced next April.
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