Practice level governance for mixed NHS/private dental practices: FOI release

Information requested

1. Since 1 January 2026, has the Minister received any formal briefings or updates from officials regarding progress on the acknowledged gap in practice-level governance for mixed NHS/private dental practices? Please answer yes or no. If yes, please provide:

a) the date(s) of the most recent briefing(s), and

b) a brief summary of the current status of the work.

If no such record exists, please confirm this explicitly.

2. Has any formal decision, recommendation, or position relating to named accountability or a patientfacing escalation pathway for this issue been recorded or presented to the Minister since 1 January 2026? Please answer yes or no. If yes, please provide:

a) the date(s) it was recorded or presented,

b) the document reference or minute ID (if any), and

c) the current status of any decisions or next steps.

If no such record exists, please confirm this explicitly.

3. Has a short-life working group, task-and-finish group, or any equivalent formal process been established since 1 January 2026 to examine or address this governance gap? Please answer yes or
no. If yes, please provide:

a) the date it was established, and

b) the name and job title of the Senior Responsible Owner.

4. Does this issue remain on the Primary Care Assurance Board risk register? Please answer yes or no. If yes, please provide the most recent risk rating (e.g. red, amber, green) as of the date of this
request.

5. Has any formal decision been taken by the Minister, or any timetable or target date been recorded, for resolving or significantly progressing the acknowledged gap in practice-level governance for mixed NHS/private dental practices? Please answer yes or no. If yes, please provide:

a) the date of the decision or entry,

b) the document reference, minute ID, or risk register entry number, and

c) a brief extract or summary of the recorded decision or timetable.

If no such decision or record exists, please confirm this explicitly.

6. Has the Minister formally set or recorded any expectations, deadlines, or milestones for officials regarding the delivery of concrete proposals or recommendations on this issue? Please answer yes or no. If yes, please provide:

a) the date it was set or recorded,

b) the document reference or minute ID, and

c) the specific expectations, deadlines, or milestones.

If no such record exists, please confirm this explicitly.

7. Since 1 January 2026, have any interim measures, guidance, or temporary arrangements been formally approved or recorded to protect patients in mixed NHS/private dental practices (particularly in rural and island communities) while the longer-term governance solution is developed? Please answer yes or no. If yes, please provide:

a) the date of approval or entry,

b) the document reference, and

c) a brief summary of the measures and which practices or areas they apply to.

If no such measures or record exists, please confirm this explicitly.

8. Has the disproportionate impact of this governance gap on rural and island communities (including dental deserts and single-provider areas) been formally recognised or recorded in any briefing, risk assessment, or policy consideration since 1 January 2026? Please answer yes or no. If yes, please provide the document reference or minute ID and a brief extract of the relevant text.

Date range: 1 January 2026 to the date of this request.

Response

The answer to your question are listed below:

1. Yes. 20 March 2026. Work is being undertaken through business as usual policy development in the office of the Chief Dental Officer, Gillian Leslie.

2. No

3. No

4. Yes - Amber

5. No

6. No

7. No

8. No

About FOI

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