Contract reform in Wales

Our position

We support dental contract reform in principle, but the proposed 2026 General Dental Services (GDS) contract model for Wales risks worsening access, morale, and outcomes.

Over the past six months, representatives from BDA Cymru have worked hard to influence the development of Government and Health Board information to support the implementation of the new GDS contract. We have repeatedly expressed the need for dentists in Wales to be provided with complete and clear information in a timely manner.

As of 2 April 2026:

• We await the final, correct Statement of Financial Entitlements

• We await the patient booklet

• The Welsh Government has decided not to publish a model contract. Instead, Local Health Boards have been instructed to issue notices of contract variation, which were unforgivably silent on new contractual terms other than the percentages for each segment of mandatory services

• The exception is Betsi Cadwaladr which issued a fully revised set of contractual conditions in the contract variation notice to all contractors in North Wales.

This unacceptably late decision-making and poor information sharing is presenting dilemmas for dentists across Wales. We have striven to get accord with the Government and health boards on more flexible conditions in the first year of this untested contract that will allow learning without threat of penalty at every turn.

Information and advice

We will provide further guidance to members as and when more information is provided from Welsh Government. Please review your email preferences to stay in the know.

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