Morgannwg LDC Response to the Welsh Government Consultation on the New GDS Contract

The Welsh Government consultation on proposed changes to the NHS General Dental Services (GDS) contract concluded on 19 June 2025, following an intense period of discussion across the public and the dental profession.

Morgannwg Local Dental Committee (LDC), representing dentists within the Swansea Bay University Health Board area, took an active role in scrutinising the proposed contract and ensuring that the voice of our local practitioners was heard.

What We Did

To ensure a well-informed response:

  • We set up a sub-committee which met weekly to oversee the strategy of the LDC’s information gathering and construction of the response to the consultation
  • We made a template with which colleagues could inform their patients about the consultation

  • We attended and monitored national consultation meetings with:

    • The Chief Dental Officer (CDO) of Wales

    • The Head of Dental Policy, Welsh Government

  • We conducted an independent survey of local dental professionals to assess views on the contract.
    This included 25 questions aligned with the consultation document and received responses from 34 practitioners across the SBUHB area.

  • We submitted a comprehensive formal response to the Welsh Government, reflecting:

    • Concerns about patient access, continuity of care, and financial sustainability

    • Views on the proposed care package model, segmentation of contract value, and DNA policy

    • Widespread dissatisfaction with the removal of seniority payments and lack of detail on associate pay

  • We shared our findings with local members of Senedd, MPs, Estyn, Swansea Bay University Health Board, British Dental Association (Cymru)

What We Found

Our findings, submitted on behalf of local NHS dentists, highlighted:

  • Strong concerns about the risk of a two-tier dental system, increasing private sector migration

  • The likelihood of reduced continuity of care due to the Dental Access Portal system

  • Widespread dissatisfaction with the 24-month treatment warranty and untested contract metrics

  • Urgent need for clearer guidance, proper funding, and pilot implementation before rollout

Our full summary identified systemic flaws that risk destabilising practices and worsening access for patients—especially those with complex needs or protected characteristics.

Documentation Now Available

To promote transparency, all documentation submitted as part of our consultation response is now available to download:

Morgannwg LDC remains committed to advocating for a fair, workable, and sustainable NHS dental contract that benefits both patients and providers. If you have further comments or queries, please contact us directly via [Contact Page link].