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Written question asked by Andrew Snowden (Conservative) on Monday, 15 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. It was answered by Stephen Kinnock (Labour) on Monday, 29 June 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Dentistry: Labour Turnover

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS dentists have left NHS practice in each of the last five years.

Answer

National Health Service dental statistics identify dentists who performed NHS dental activity in a given financial year. Within these statistics a ‘leaver’ is defined as a performer who carried out NHS dental activity in the previous financial year but none in the following year. This data does not show whether a dentist has permanently left NHS practice, as a dentist may return in later years.

The following table shows the total number of dentists who have done some NHS work and the leavers each year from 2020/21 to 2024/25:

Financial year

Number of dentists performing NHS work

Leavers

2020/21

23,733

2,342

2021/22

24,265

1,412

2022/23

24,151

2,002

2023/24

24,307

1,929

2024/25

24,655

1,865

Source: Dental statistics – England, 2024/25, NHS Business Services Authority

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
10026
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Dentistry Labour turnover
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk