It's either callousness or incompetence. Welsh Govt will be giving dentists the weekend to review the small print of a new contract. Patients will pay the price for the snap decisions they’ve forced on this profession. https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/wales-callousness-or-incompetence/

Government say cancer survival shouldn't be a postcode lottery. But as long as access to NHS dentistry remains a game of chance that's exactly where we'll be with oral cancers. https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/oral-cancer-is-the-missing-piece-in-the-government-s-plan/

A real privilege to take Tony and his family to Westminster. All too often dentistry has been treated as Cinderella service, a low priority that can’t compete with ‘life and death’ issues. Oral cancer demonstrates how high the stakes can be and that this profession can be life savers.

"The decline of NHS dentistry is not inevitable," says Alex Easton MP. NHS dentistry shouldn't be an optional extra. But saving it will require urgent reform wedded to sustainable funding.

"It's a stupid system," says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social An inflexible contract means that if a practice has capacity - while others in the area are actually reducing NHS work - that funding can't be kept on the frontline. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7z7x0w95go

"Create a caricature of an NHS dentist based on everything you know about the role..." Undervalued. Overstretched. We've spelled out to the facts time and again. Government needs to show it's ready to act on them.

Thanks to Minister for Care @skinnock.bsky.social and Chief Dental Officer for England Jason Wong for attending our Q&A session on NHS #dentistry in Parliament today. The packed room shows the strength of feeling in Parliament on this crucial issue.

"We see a lot of children here that can't see a regular dentist that are turning up with abscesses & infections," says Shiv Pabary Urgent care is vital. But a govt that says the NHS must shift from sickness to prevention must not forget routine care. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9qp2xx3e37o

“Soundbites are all well and good" says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social "But what tens of millions of our patients need is real commitment, underpinned by sustainable investment.” https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/primary-care-bodies-unite-to-take-fight-for-financial-security-future-to-parliament/

"There's no point increasing training places for dental students if there are no NHS practices left for them to train in after graduating” warned @drlaurenharrhy.bsky.social We can’t have NHS dentistry without NHS dentists. Practices need decent contracts to retain and recruit staff.

Was it the staff meeting from hell? Today Dental Public Health staff will still be looking for answers on the abolition of NHS England. https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/nhs-england-merger-public-health-experts-offered-euphemisms-not-clarity-over-jobs/

Govt to tie the hands of practices on urgent care. We worked to secure a level that's tolerable. But practices could face penalties for failure to hit targets simply because local demand does not exist. https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/government-tie-hands-of-practices-on-urgent-care/

The abolition of NHS England has left dental public health staff flying blind. They deserve real clarity on the future of their vital roles. https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/dental-public-health-staff-deserve-clarity-on-vital-roles/

The Government says it will extend free NHS dental care to young people leaving the care system until their 25th birthday. This policy makes perfect sense. If you could get an appointment… A thread [1]

Keeping our communities safe from racism. A joint statement on anti-migrant rhetoric from us and our friends @bma.org.uk, @rcn.org.uk, @thecsp.bsky.social @unitetheunion.bsky.social @unison.org.uk @hcsa-com.bsky.social

Over 75,000 people have now backed our call for fair funding for NHS dentistry. For a generation choices made at the Treasury and the Department of Health have left millions with no options. Our patients deserve better. Join us: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/fund-nhs-dentistry-now

“NHS dentistry has ceased to exist for millions of families," says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social "Warm words won’t solve this - only real investment and meaningful reform will.” Sign here if you agree: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/fund-nhs-dentistry-now

Catching up with @jon4highpeak.bsky.social MP this afternoon at #LPC25 His High Peak constituency has lost many NHS dentists over the last 10 years. This exodus isn’t inevitable. We can and must stem the flow. @thebda.bsky.social

Good to catch up with @jaynekirkhammp.bsky.social . Told access to NHS dentistry in her patch is worse than ever. Residents are living with the results, with many now sporting missing teeth. It’s not inevitable. Fundamental reform, coupled with adequate funding can change this.

Great to meet @linseyfarnsworthmp.bsky.social at #LPC25 Her Amber Valley constituency is one of Derbyshire’s worst dental desserts. We’re committed to work together to secure a sustainable future for NHS dentistry in the region and nationwide.

Great to meet with @steveyemm-mp.bsky.social at #LPC25 Steve told us how access to NHS dental care remains a top issue among his constituents. We have commitments on contract reform in this parliament. We discussed the funding needed to restore care to millions. @thebda.bsky.social

Poor oral health is linked to a "lifetime of problems". Couldn’t agree more with Josh Fenton-Glynn MP’s analysis yesterday morning at a session tackling dentistry and the government’s wider commitment to prevention. @thebda.bsky.social @joshfg.bsky.social

Over 50,000 have already joined our call to properly fund this service. For a generation NHS dentistry has seen savage cuts Restoring care to millions is impossible without real investment. Sign here👉 https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/fund-nhs-dentistry-now

Ministers have said NHS dentistry is at death’s door. That the horror stories we keep seeing are Dickensian. It’s all true. To save this service, we need them to put their money where their mouth is. Sign our call for fair funding. https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/fund-nhs-dentistry-now

“Supervised brushing is a tried-and-tested policy that we back 100%" says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social "But Ministers must ensure the funding and reform are in place so kids can get the care they need.” https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/free-toothbrushes-schools-across-england-35905840

"These scenes won't end until government keeps its promises," says @shivparbary.bsky.social "The hurdle is going to be the Treasury." "Unless you put in the adequate funding that's needed to reform the service, then I'm afraid we're going to have discussions like this again."

Government are proposing a ban on sales of energy drinks to kids. We applaud this. Ministers say they want to shift the focus from treatment to prevention. Sign here and tell them to go further and faster on reining in #BigFood. 👇 https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/make-sugar-the-new-tobacco

“It is hard to see how services in deprived areas will be improved unless funding for NHS dentistry is increased.” Today's Guardian editorial. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/sep/02/the-guardian-view-on-the-dental-divide-ministers-must-brush-up-their-policy-as-well-as-childrens-teeth

This message could be on display at thousands of practices the length and breadth of England.👇

“The crisis in NHS dentistry was made in Westminster," says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social "We can end this horror show." "But we need to see real urgency and ambition.” https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/i-called-nhs-dentists-7-35514646.amp

We’ll never make the shift from sickness to prevention when millions have given up even trying to access care. Our patients continue to face an historic crisis, that requires a proportionate response from government.  https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/millions-brits-unmet-need-give-35540543

"Restoring care to millions and consigning 'DIY' dentistry back to the Victorian era won’t break the bank," says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social "But they will require sustainable investment." https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/wes-streeting-defends-only-paying-35553849

BREAKING: The latest changes to the NHS contract 👇 https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/england-modest-improvements-not-the-final-destination/

NHS dentistry is on the critical list, and demoralised dentists are walking away every day this contract remains in force. If we don’t make a break in this Parliament there may not be a service left to save. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/dentist-being-fined-150k-nhs-35502290

"By 2035, the NHS dental system will be transformed." That's the promise in the NHS 10 Year Plan. Ministers have pledged to begin work this year fixing a failed contract. They've made the right diagnosis. But we can’t wait a decade for them to write the prescription.

A leap in the dark could spell the end not just to continuity of care but NHS dentistry in Wales altogether. Don't miss this chance to have your say👉 https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/blog/wales-rip-to-the-family-dentist/

Govt say it chooses investment over decline. That logic must be applied to NHS dentistry. It’s no surprise this service is on its last legs, when its share of the pie has halved in a generation. Today's settlement offers a chance to restore care to millions. It can't be missed.

"Can the Chancellor confirm that this funding will bring dentists back into the NHS?" asks @libdemdaisy.bsky.social. NHS spending is set to rise by £29bn. It is now for health ministers to decide if they turn the page on a generation of savage cuts that have brought this service to the brink.

Demand for dental tourism is surging. 95% of dentists we polled examined patients who travelled abroad for treatment. Of those 86% treated cases that developed complications. Patients need to understand the risks. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/mum-pain-worse-childbirth-after-35326992

"NHS dentistry feels at its lowest ebb," says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social in the @yorkshirepost.co.uk  "One Yorkshire MP has it in her power to change this: Rachel Reeves." "The political choices that brought us here were made at the Treasury." "And any solutions will be too."

Damning from @stevedarlingmp.bsky.social‬ on 'Golden Hellos'. They formed part of an NHS dentistry 'Recovery Plan' that was unworthy of the title. The focus now must be confronting the failed contracts and underfunding fuelling this crisis.

"Reform won't work if there's no workforce left by the time it's finally introduced," says @chriswebbmp.bsky.social‬ This profession and the millions we treat need a clear timetable and a sustainable funding model.

"NHS dentists are in fact heroes," says Dr @peterprinsleymp.bsky.social Dentists have slogged on through decades of decay and drift. Underfunded, overstretched & working to a failed contract. There's a chance now to turn the page, value the workforce, & restore care to millions.

"We are going to see a two-tier society in which only the rich can get the dental care that they so desperately need." Sir Julian Lewis MP outlines where we'll end up if we don't see fundamental reform of a failed contract.

"Let me say this clearly, dentists are not the problem," says @dannychambers.bsky.social "They're doing the best within a contract that is outdated and damaging." Thanks to @libdems.org.uk for speaking out. We must restore care to millions & make patient-centred, preventive care a reality.

When a 4% pay uplift isn’t a 4% pay uplift👉 https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/a-paper-pay-rise-that-won-t-cover-mounting-cost-of-care/

Thanks to ‪@melanieonnmp.bsky.social‬ for calling today's important debate on NHS dentistry. Over 250,000 people have backed our call for change, alongside the WI and The Mirror. But this crisis is hurting millions across this country. It requires both urgency and ambition.

This Thursday your MP has a chance to speak up for dentistry.  The Government pledged to save NHS dentistry. Tell your MP we need to see real urgency and ambition.  👉 https://bda.eaction.net/urgencyandambition

Müller say it's full of "dairy goodness."   But it also contains more sugar than a can of Coke. Extending the sugar levy to these drinks makes perfect sense. Sign here if you agree Govt need to go further and faster on Big Food. https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/make-sugar-the-new-tobacco

New evidence shows big corporations including Nestlé, Coca-Cola and Mars, lobbied the UK government to drop plans on healthy eating. If you agree the food industry is out of control sign here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/make-sugar-the-new-tobacco