NHS Dentistry & Oral Health Update: Infection prevention control as we live with COVID-19

The recently published NHS England Infection Prevention and Control Manual and the accompanying dental framework provides practices with the principles to use to deliver care and represents the next steps in healthcare's continuing transition back to pre-pandemic IPC measures. These were described in more detail in our latest dental and oral health update.

Given this easing of IPC restrictions we will be returning to usual contracting arrangements from Q2 2022/23 onwards, as indicated in our letter of 5th April 2022. Orthodontic services have been working to usual contracting arrangements since 1 April 2022 and this will continue. Details of the changes are set out in the infographic below.

The full year income protection set at 90% of contracted activity for practices exiting the prototype programme will continue, as previously communicated.

In line with this return to usual contracting arrangements, activity delivered by Dental Foundation Trainees will no longer be accrued as practice activity as of 1st July 2022.

Sara Hurley, Chief Dental Officer England and

Ali Sparke Director for Dentistry, Community Pharmacy, Optometry and the NHS Standard Contract

Read the full June NHS Dentistry and Oral Health Update.