New guidance has landed explaining how local authorities should provide specialist public health advice to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), but this risks being undermined given the huge question marks hanging over the dental public health workforce in England.
This guidance, developed by the Faculty of Public Health and the Association of Directors of Public Health for government, aims to ensure that expert public health input should be embedded into ICB commissioning processes. However, the grave uncertainty facing the dental public health workforce in light of the abolition of NHS England is set to undermine aspirations to ensure that local decisions are informed by population health needs and evidence-based approaches.
When the Dental Public Health workforce moved from Public Health England into NHSE and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities in 2021 there were 28.8 Whole Time Equivalent consultants in England. As of March 2025, this number had decreased by over 25% to 21.4 WTE and has continued to fall as when people move between jobs there is a recruitment freeze.
Deep oral health inequalities look set to widen. The recent Adult Oral Health Survey revealed decay rates among adults have surged to levels not seen since the 1990s, with decades of oral health gains wiped out.
“This guidance sets out very worthy aspirations,” says BDA Chair Eddie Crouch. “But local authorities will not meet the challenge of widening inequality without boots on the ground armed with unique expertise.
“The abolition of NHS England has left dental public health staff flying blind. They deserve real clarity on the future of their vital roles.”
We are continuing to press for real clarity for our members.
