In response to correspondence between Rachel Reeves MP, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Dr Ian Gargan, Chief Executive, of the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) said:

“We welcome the Chancellor’s request that the CMA ‘considers the effectiveness of competition between private dentistry providers, including at a local level, and the ability of consumers to make effective choices and obtain good value for money’.

“With strong links between dental and more general health, this is not an area of healthcare that should be ignored.

“Research suggests that 3.8 million people in the UK were covered by private dental plans or insurance in 2022 and that there has been a rapid growth in the private dental market.

“The Chancellor's proposal mirrors the work we already do through the Private Healthcare Market Investigation Order to collect and publish data regarding elective medical in-patient and day case procedures in the private sector. We work with consultant surgeons & physicians, hospitals, hospital provider groups and private medical insurers to implement this.

“The Order is designed to lead to greater transparency, choice and competition and the proposed investigation could mean the same for the dentistry sector.

“We already work closely with the CMA and would be happy to support this initiative by lending the benefit of our experiences and expertise at collecting private healthcare data and making it available to patients.”