Thank you for your request for information about the following:

Request

‘I am doing a PhD research on the NHS dental service providing root canal treatment. I would like to know how much the NHS spends on this treatment now and historically.’

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 16 August 2024.

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.

Our response

Please note that costs are not available for dental treatments, due to a course of treatment (FP17) containing 1 or more clinical items and can be in different treatment charge bands, namely Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, Band 1 Urgent or Other. Therefore, the requested information is not held by the NHSBSA as we only hold data on the numbers of endodontic items included on FP17s in this instance.

Please be advised that from 1 October 2022, there was the introduction of two endodontic items, to enable distinguishing between molar and non-molar endodontics.

Under Section 21 of the FOIA we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you.

The data for 2018/2019 to 2022/2023 is published in the annual dental statistics, which is available from the link below. Table 5c in the National Overview excel document contains the data required:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-dental-statistics/2022-23-annual-report

The data for 2023/2024 is available from the below link using the same instructions as above:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202324

Please see the following link to view the section 21 in full - Freedom of Information Act 2000 (legislation.gov.uk)

Data Queries

If you have any queries regarding the data provided, or if you plan on publishing, the data please contact foidata@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

Reusing the data and copyright

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2024” Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.