Dental training expansion announced as NHS dentistry improvements begin to show in West Cumbria

Plans to expand the number of dentists working in the NHS were announced last week, as part of wider efforts to improve access to NHS dentistry.

The government has confirmed it will increase the number of dental training places – the first major expansion of dental training places in nearly twenty years – helping to grow the NHS dental workforce in the years ahead.

The announcement also included measures to strengthen the NHS dental workforce by improving routes for overseas-qualified dentists to practise in the UK and introducing requirements to ensure more newly trained dentists spend time working in the NHS.

Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister said the announcement builds on action taken since summer 2024 to rebuild NHS dentistry and improve access to care.

Over the past 18 months the government has introduced additional funding and incentives to encourage dentists to provide NHS treatment, including payments for dentists who take on new NHS patients and recruitment incentives aimed at areas facing shortages.

Encouragingly, people in West Cumbria are already beginning to see improvements. Over the last year, new NHS dentists have begun working in Egremont, Whitehaven and Workington and an Urgent Dental Access Centre in Whitehaven is now treating around 140 patients every week

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“Access to NHS dentistry has been a major concern for many people across West Cumbria.

“Over the past 18 months I’ve been working with local dentists, the NHS and ministers to push for improvements, and the government has introduced additional funding and incentives to encourage dentists to provide NHS care.

“This latest announcement to expand dental training places – the first major expansion in nearly twenty years – alongside reforms to bring more dentists into the NHS workforce will help strengthen dentistry for the future.

“Importantly, we’re already starting to see progress locally, with new NHS dentists now working in Egremont, Whitehaven and Workington and an Urgent Dental Access Centre treating around 140 patients every week.

“There is still more to do, but these are important steps in the right direction for patients across West Cumbria.”