PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Dental Services: Fees and Charges (27 March 2019)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of the five per cent increase in patient charges for NHS dental treatment on the affordability of that treatment for patients.

Asked by:
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour)

The Department has undertaken equality analysis and impact assessment setting out the potential impacts on patients, which can be accessed at the following link:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/522/made

There have been no changes to exemption arrangements. Those who qualify for free dental treatment will remain entirely exempt from charges, which includes those under the age of 18, those under the age of 19 and in full-time education, pregnant women and or those that have had a baby in the previous 12 months, and those on qualifying benefits will not be impacted by these changes.

For those adults who do not qualify for exemption from dental charges, but who are on low incomes, are eligible to receive, full or partial help for health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Answered by:
Dame Caroline Dinenage (Conservative)
4 April 2019