Will the Minister outline the number and percentage of dental practices in Wales accepting child patients and young people with learning disabilities?
The Welsh Government does not hold data on the percentage of dental practices accepting and providing appointments for new NHS patients. These data will vary as access to dental services fluctuates, being dependent on the capacity of individual practices, contractual commitments and at the present time the consequences of the pandemic.
However, 322 NHS contracts opted into contract reform from April 2022, which accounts for 89% of the total NHS contract value. As part of the new contract reform metrics, these practices will be expected to provide access for 5 new or urgent patients every week per £170K of contract value.
A “new patient” is inclusive of any individual who has an NHS number, this includes adults, school children and children or young people with learning disabilities.