In a debate in the Commons on Thursday, Andrew called for the 2006 dental contract negotiated by the previous government to be overhauled. He said;
"I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate. Would he agree with me that the fundamental problem with NHS dentistry at the moment is the 2006 contract and the units of dental activity? Does he share my disappointment at the statement made in the summer about how to resolve the situation based on the consultation launched last year, and furthermore, does he hope that UDAs will be expunged from all of this so that dentists can be properly rewarded for the job they do and thus return to the NHS?"
Andrew has been contacted by a large number of constituents who have found it impossible to get access to an NHS dentist in the area.
In November Andrew asked the then minister Maria Caulfield what she would do to resolve the ineffective Units of Dental Activity basis for calculating dentists' payments. In the summer some changes were made but it is unclear if they have had much effect.
Andrew said;
"There needs to be a root and branch reform of dentists' remuneration so that they will return to the NHS and not be tripped up by the unintended consequences of payment by UDA"