UDA contract changes: Our position

Our goal is clear: Phase out the UDA (Units of Dental Activity) entirely and replace it with a prevention-focused contract that better supports patients and practices.

We are not there yet, but in ongoing discussions with NHS England, we have aimed to address some of the worst aspects of the UDA contract, and to make the NHS a more attractive and sustainable working environment.

We have advocated for payments to be made in pounds rather than UDAs. This change would help address the inequities caused by the variation in UDA values across practices and support a fairer, more sustainable NHS dental service.

These are meaningful improvements, but they can be better and are certainly not the final destination.

These proposals were consulted on until 19 August 2025. We submitted a formal response, and now await the Government’s reply. We will keep you updated when there are further developments.

Read our analysis of the proposals to understand their impact on you

While we are still ultimately aiming for fundamental contract reform, we have worked hard to achieve the best possible package of changes through this consultation. Below we have outlined the wins, and where there's still some way to go.