It’s really happening! Despite the view of some NHS dental contract holders in Wales that it would never go ahead, at the end of last month the Welsh Government released more information relating to the new regulations it will introduce next year. It appears there really is no going back now!
To help contract holders understand what this means for them and their business, we’ve scheduled a webinar for Wednesday 10th December at 7pm. Book your place here. During the session, Wales-based Practice Plan Regional Support Manager, Louise Anderson, practice owner and BDA representative, Lauren Harrhy, and Practice Plan Head of Sales, Zoe Close will highlight the key points contract holders need to know and outline their options and the action they need to take.
Since the government issued the details at the end of last month, we’ve been attending meetings and speaking to the experts about how the changes will change the face of NHS dentistry so that we can offer valuable support to contract holders while they consider their options. During the webinar, we’ll share them and try to answer your questions so that you feel able to make informed decisions.
Here are some of the main changes to the regulations people will see when they become law on 2nd February 2026 and the new contracts are issued:
Regulations from 1st April 2026
Under the new regulations, UDAs are no more and are replaced by a care-package model. Green, low risk patients will now be subject to 18–24-month recall intervals. Funding is segmented along the following lines:
- 70% Care Packages (core treatment)
- 10% New Patients (from the Dental Access Portal)
- 7% Urgent Care Slots (practices still receive payment even if patient does not attend)
- 3% Green Patient Capitation (for low-risk patients)
- 5% Prevention
- 5% Local/National Priorities (commissioner-defined)
The Green Patient Capitation will see them kept on practice lists through a capitated payment of 3% of annual contract value (ACV). When they are recalled, they will not be treated as “new patients” so would not attract the full tariff.
Patient Charges: A new maximum patient charge cap of £384 is being introduced. Patients will still pay 50% of the care package value, up to the cap. In addition, non-exempt patients will pay full lab fees which could push costs closer to private fee levels.
Notice period: Currently three months, from 1st April 2026, this becomes six months.
FP17 process: staged treatments will now require multiple submissions, increasing the admin burden on practices. Also, it’s unclear whether software companies will be ready by April to support the new system.
What does this mean?
- High-volume practices face underfunding, especially around green patients and high-needs populations. Capitation (3% ACV) is inadequate for high numbers of routine recall patients- that level is not sufficient for practices to afford to see all their green patients, even with the longer recall interval.
- It’s conceivable that practices could burn through their care-package funding mid-year. The government has been at pains to stress that there is no additional money for NHS dentistry.
- Practices are responsible for collecting lab fees from patients, leaving them with the debt for non-payers. Lab fees for exempt patients need to be covered by funding from the care packages which will eat into that element of the contract value. Lab fee rules and 10% Band 3 caps increase the risk for prosthetics/crown-heavy practices.
What are the options for contract holders?
The new regulations, as the Welsh Government itself says, represent the biggest change to the NHS Dental contract in Wales since 2006. Understanding the implications of the new funding structure is a challenge but we’re here to help you understand it and your options.
In simple terms, contract holders have three options:
- Accept the new contract
- Hand back their current contract
- Introduce private dentistry alongside their NHS contract This could be in the form of a dental membership plan which supports a practice by providing a guaranteed monthly income.
If you think you won’t want to work under the new regulations and would like to hand back your contract, then there are three key dates to bear in mind.
If you are clear in your mind that you do not want to be subject to the new regulations at all, then you need to have given your Local Health Board (LHB) your three-month’s notice by 31st December 2025.
If, however, you would like to wait until you have received the contract on 2nd February 2026, then you can still terminate the contract with only three months’ notice right up to 31st March 2026. However, if any part of your notice period falls after 1st April, you will be subject to the new regulations for that period of time.
For example, if you hand in your notice on 3rd February, your notice period would run up until 2nd May. For the period 1st April to 2nd May, you would be working under the new regulations. Should you wait until after 1st April to hand back your contract, then your notice period would be six months.
How we can help
If you think you may want to hand back your contract, then we can support you to make that move. Our 5-step process includes running the numbers to make sure that leaving the NHS really is the right option for you. If it’s not, we’ll be honest and tell you straight. If it is the right thing to do, then we’ll hold your hand all the way through the process and beyond, to help you build a profitable and sustainable business.
The danger of running out of money part-way through the year is a concern for many dentists. This is where introducing a dental membership plan alongside your contract could be a good move. So, if handing back the contract doesn’t make sense for your business or you want to retain your NHS contract but have the security of a guaranteed income, we can discuss whether introducing a membership plan alongside the contract would be a good way to support your practice finances.
Whether you’re just waking up to the reality of a new contract next year or have already decided which way you want to go, our webinar on Wednesday 10th December is for you. Sign up here. To book a conversation with one of Welsh experts, you can do so here.