New Welsh GDS contract: Segmentation and fee structure explained
The Welsh Government has confirmed the new contract segmentation model and fee structure for NHS dental services
These changes aim to prioritise patient need, ensuring practices are incentivised to deliver comprehensive care.
The new contract model
Key areas for consideration include:
- The proposal to transfer patients on 18-24 month recall to the Dental Access Portal will not go ahead. Instead, practices will receive a capitation payment to provide recall appointments for this group
- The general fee rate increasing from £135 per hour to £150 per hour
- Proposals to cap parental leave payments and phase out seniority payments will not progress
- The annual contract value top slice rising to £1200 to fund participation in Accelerated Cluster Development
- Patient charges being set at 50% of the care package value for those who pay towards their dental care
- Delaying the implementation of an online patient charge revenue collection system until April 2027.
How funding is allocated under the segmentation model
The contract segmentation model allocates funding across six key areas:
3% for recall and monitoring
For patients who need to be seen at intervals longer than 17 months.
7% for urgent treatment for new patients
Practices must provide appointment slots as required by the Local Health Board (LHB) on a rolling six-month basis. Definitive treatment is mandated; if this is not possible, patients should be offered an additional appointment to complete urgent care. All patients will be referred through the LHBs urgent access arrangements. The urgent fee is paid even if the patient does not attend. The performing dentist must warrant urgent treatment for 12 months.
10% for new patient assessment
New patients will be allocated using the Dental Access Portal, with some exceptions such as children whose parents are already NHS patients at the practice.
70% to provide care packages
Treatment should be delivered as complete packages of care rather than single items of service. The performing dentist must warrant the treatment for two years.
5% for prevention payment
To receive this payment, practices must comply fully with Delivering Better Oral Health guidance. This includes fluoride application as required, a prevention-focussed conversation with the patient, and a tailored care plan based on risk and need.
5% for local and national priorities
These priorities will be agreed annually, usually through negotiation, and may include audit and quality improvement, annual self-assessment, support for high needs areas, and workforce retention.
Fee structure for care packages
The fees shown in the table below are for whole packages of care and not for single items of service. The figures shown are the currently calculated fees and are subject to change.
| Care package | Fee |
| Urgent | £75 |
| New patient assessment | £54 |
| Simple caries | £72 |
| Extended restorative | £137 |
| Perio | £97 |
| Anterior root canal treatment | £182 |
| Posterior root canal treatment | £365 |
| Crown or bridge* | £280 |
| Denture* | £172 |
| Very high needs stabilisation | £150 |
| Three-month recall | £200 |
| Six-month recall | £100 |
| Nine-month recall | £75 |
| Twelve-month recall | £50 |
| Initial assessment under one years | £80 |
| Initial assessment one to four years | £75 |
| Initial assessment five to 12 years | £70 |
| Initial assessment 13 t0 17 years | £60 |
| Six-month recall child patient | £110 |
*Laboratory fees for appliances are separately calculated at cost.
