‘£150 dentist vouchers to end postcode lotto’

DENTAL vouchers worth £150 a year could help “end the postcode lottery” of treatment in England, according to a report.

- BY STORM NEWTON

The call from the Policy Exchange think tank — backed by former Health Secretary Sir Sajid Javid - could “save NHS dentistry” and “fix our national smile”.

It comes as the government announced that it would proceed with a raft of dental reforms. The changes aim to prioritise those in need of urgent treatment and patients who require complex care.

A universal £150 voucher could be used to pay for insurance or a capitation plan, where a monthly fee goes towards regular care such as checkups and hygiene appointments, said the Policy Exchange.

Patients could also have the option of taking their voucher to any General Dental Councilregistered professional for noncosmetic treatment.

Policy Exchange said all registered dentists should be required to accept the voucher and children as patients at NHS dental rates.