Samantha Dixon, Labour’s MP for Chester North and Neston, has welcomed major new reforms to NHS dentistry that will make it easier for patients to get long-term treatment and urgent dental care through the NHS.
After 14 years of Tory neglect that left millions unable to see an NHS dentist, this Labour government is taking decisive action to fix a broken system.
The reforms will prioritise patients with the most urgent and complex needs, expand access to urgent NHS dental appointments, and ensure dentists are fairly supported and incentivised to deliver longer-term treatment for conditions such as gum disease and tooth decay.
Patients in Chester North and Neston will also find it easier to access urgent NHS dental care locally, reducing the need to travel long distances or live with pain because appointments are unavailable.
These changes – which will be in place from April 2026 – will make sure the NHS dentistry budget – estimated at around £4 billion – delivers value for money for the taxpayer by diverting funds into better and more effective treatments for those who need it most.
The measures form part of Labour’s wider plan to rescue NHS dentistry after a decade of decline under the Tories, including new urgent and emergency dental appointments, supervised toothbrushing for young children, and preventative measures like water fluoridation to cut tooth decay.
Commenting on the news, Samantha said:
“When I was first elected, under the previous Conservative administration, we were truly in the midst of an NHS dentistry crisis, with more and more areas becoming NHS dentistry deserts.
“Constituents constantly raised their concerns about the difficulties they faced securing an appointment, and many told me how they were forced to travel long distances – something that, for so many, simply is not possible. For years, the Tory government failed to act, leaving people in across our local area struggling to access vital dental care. Too many were left living with pain, or had no choice but to pay for private care if they could afford it.
“I’m pleased that this Labour Government is finally taking the urgent action that’s needed. We’re investing in our NHS, fixing what the Conservatives broke, and ensuring that patients come first. These changes are about making dental care more accessible, making urgent dental care easier to reach, and backing our NHS dentists to deliver the care that local people need and deserve.”
Labour’s Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock said:
“We inherited a broken NHS dental system and have worked at pace to start fixing it – rolling out urgent and emergency appointments and bringing in supervised toothbrushing for young children in the most deprived areas.
“Now we are tackling the deep-rooted problems so patients can have faith in NHS dentistry – these changes will make it easier for anyone with urgent dental needs to get NHS treatment, preventing painful conditions from spiralling into avoidable hospital admissions.
“This is about putting patients first and supporting those with the greatest need, while backing our NHS dentists, making the contract more attractive, and giving them the resources to deliver more.
“This marks the first step towards a new era for NHS dentistry after a decade of decline.”