Overview
Recent amendments to the NHS dental contract in England mean that practices must now deliver a defined proportion of their activity as unscheduled care. The introduction of an 8.2% requirement means that unscheduled care is no longer an optional part of the contract but a mandated element of delivery. As a result, practices will need to ensure that associate agreements accurately reflect how this activity will be allocated, recorded, and remunerated. These changes sit alongside new NHS England expectations relating to appraisal, audit, and quality improvement, which associates may choose to take part in subject to agreement with the practice.
We have updated our model Associate Contract to reflect these changes and developments. This is intended to help associates and practices maintain clear, fair, and legally compliant working arrangements. An up-to-date agreement is essential because it clarifies expectations on both sides, including how unscheduled care will be distributed, how non-clinical Units of Dental Activity (UDAs) will be recognised, and how payments will be calculated when activity levels change throughout the year.
The recent NHS contract changes in England also impact how clawback may apply, in situations where the practice does not meet its overall activity requirements. Associates, therefore, need clear terms that describe how any shortfall is attributed, how information will be shared, and what happens if performance is affected by factors beyond their control. Your associate agreement should also outline arrangements for communication, dispute resolution, and reviews, ensuring that both parties have a shared understanding of responsibilities.
This advice explains how the updated BDA Contract incorporates the NHS contractual changes, why practices are obliged to update their terms, and how these updates may influence your day-to-day working relationship. Taking the time to understand the revised agreement will help you protect your professional position, plan your workload, and engage constructively with your practice about how the new requirements will operate.
