The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England have announced the creation of a single Joint Executive Team, which will bring together leadership from both organizations. This change is set to take effect on November 3, 2025, and will include senior roles in medicine, nursing, social care, research, and national health priorities.
The Oral Health Foundation has responded to this announcement by expressing concern that oral health is not included in the new executive structure or among the National Priority Programmes. Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, commented: “Oral health is an integral part of overall health, yet remains one of the UK’s most neglected health inequalities. This omission risks undermining progress already being made through national initiatives such as Smile for Life, Mouth Care Matters, and supervised toothbrushing schemes, which have proven impact in reducing oral disease burden.
“We urge the Joint Executive Team to ensure that oral health is represented at the highest level within this new structure, and that prevention, access to NHS dentistry, and population oral health programmes are prioritised alongside other areas of health policy. The Oral Health Foundation stands ready to work with DHSC and NHS England to embed oral health firmly within the nation’s health agenda.”
The Oral Health Foundation stated it will continue advocating for oral health to be fully recognized as a national priority so that all individuals can benefit from improved oral and general health.
