Rachel Reeves, the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, has formally urged the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK’s competition watchdog, to launch a market study into the private dentistry sector. The move comes amid a severe crisis in NHS dentistry, which has forced millions of patients to rely on increasingly expensive private care.
The Chancellor stated that the inquiry is necessary to combat the “scourge of hidden costs, lack of transparency and overtreatment” that has “blighted families” seeking dental care. The letter asked the CMA to specifically examine the effectiveness of competition among private providers, including at the local level, and the ability of consumers to get good value for money.
The announcement is framed as part of the government’s wider efforts to tackle the cost of living crisis. It highlights reports showing private dentistry fees have been rocketing, with some analyses suggesting average costs for non-surgical treatments have increased by as much as 32% in two years. The lack of NHS appointments is a central driver, pushing patients into the private market.
“Utterly perverse”: BDA slams call for inquiry into private dentistry
The British Dental Association has warned the Chancellor’s decision to call on the Competition and Markets Authority to launch an investigation into pricing of private dentistry is merely a fig leaf for her failure to properly fund NHS care.
Private practices have had to cover significant increases in overheads following the Chancellor’s first budget, with surging costs across the piece. Over the last four years, the professional body estimates private fees have increased at an average of 13.8% – when costs of delivering care have increased by as much in a single year. Cumulative inflation for the period 2021 to date stands at 24.5%.
The BDA has stressed that private dentistry needs to operate to market forces, with prices that cover the costs of delivering treatment, often using techniques and materials unavailable on the NHS, while expressing concern that the Chancellor has not provided a penny of new investment to support the rebuild of NHS dentistry.
The CMA is said to be ‘exploring the merits’ of an inquiry, the results of which would be felt UKwide.
BDA Chair Eddie Crouch said: “This call for an investigation is utterly perverse. The Chancellor is singling out private dentists for doing what any business does: covering their costs, some of which are of the Chancellor’s own making.
“At the same time, she’s very happy to starve NHS services of vital funding. We’d remind her that profits from private care are all that are keeping NHS dentistry afloat.”
