Overview
The dental performers list is how NHS England determines and regulates who is permitted to provide NHS primary dental services in England. It is maintained by NHS England under The National Health Service (Performers Lists) (England) Regulations 2013. A dentist must be included on the list to be able to perform NHS dental services in primary care regardless of whether you are a practice owner or associate. The performers list aims to both protect patients by adding oversight to those who practice in an NHS primary care setting as well as maintain standards across NHS primary care dentistry. It allows NHS England to verify that all dentists providing its care are suitably qualified and experienced. It also provides the structure to manage performance, conduct, and health concerns following regulation. and health concerns following regulation.
To join the performers list you must be registered with the GDC, hold appropriate indemnity, and meet the stated criteria regarding eligibility and suitability. Once admitted to the dental list you are subject to the continuing obligations that are set out below. NHS England has the power to impose conditions, suspend, or remove you from the list where any concerns arise.
Administratively the list is managed nationally by Primary Care Support England (PCSE) but it is applied locally with performers linked to the areas they practice in. In England, you can search the primary care performers directory to check your entries. If you work in England as well as one of the other four nations, you must have your name entered in a performers list for each country.