For UK private dental practices
Your NHS contract is paying you less than the care you deliver costs
Dentists across England return substantial sums in undelivered NHS contracts every year, not from lack of effort, but because UDA targets and contract values no longer reflect the real cost of care.
Two minutes. Solva follows up with specific transition and contract restructuring options.
- Dentists feeling pressured to rush appointments to meet UDA targets, compromising patient care
- Reduced investment in new equipment or staff training due to tight NHS budgets
- Patients facing long waiting lists for NHS appointments, leading to frustration and seeking private alternatives
- High stress levels among practice owners and associates due to financial uncertainty and administrative burden
- Increased administrative burden and staff stress due to complex NHS contract management and UDA targets
- Difficulty in recruiting and retaining dental professionals willing to work under NHS contract terms
- Loss of NHS contract value and potential clawbacks from under-delivery
- Reduced practice revenue and profitability due to inefficient NHS contract terms
- Reduced access to essential dental care for NHS patients, leading to worsening oral health outcomes
- Delayed diagnosis and treatment of serious dental conditions due to lack of NHS appointments
- Damage to practice reputation and patient trust due to perceived abandonment of NHS patients
- Negative public perception and media scrutiny regarding access to dental care
In 2022–2023, only 82% of Units of Dental Activity (UDAs) expected to be delivered were actually delivered (Faculty Dental Journal, 2025).
Source: https://publishing.rcseng.ac.uk/doi/abs/10.1308/rcsfdj.2025.7
Frequently asked questions
Why does this problem persist?
The current NHS dental contract, particularly the UDA system, often fails to cover the true cost of providing care, leading to financial strain and reduced clinical freedom. This creates a disincentive for practices to offer complex or preventive treatments under the NHS, pushing both practitioners and patients towards private options. The shift is exacerbated by widespread patient frustration with NHS access.
What is the cost of leaving it unaddressed?
No verified UK data available for 18% loss of potential NHS contract value. However, dentists in England returned over £900 million to the government in the past two years due to under-delivery of NHS contracts (Oral Health Group, 2026).
This is exactly what I do with UK private practices. Answer the few questions above and I'll come back personally with where to start. Paul.