| Reference | FOI 2026/1896 |
|---|---|
| Description | FOI Request regarding NHS orthodontic contracts |
| Date Requested | 17/07/2026 |
| Date Replied | 27/07/2026 |
| Category | Performance Improvement & Assurance |
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am requesting information regarding the year-end reconciliation, performance targets, and financial clawbacks for NHS orthodontic contracts (General Dental Services and Personal Dental Services contracts delivering Units of Orthodontic Activity – UOAs) managed by your Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Please provide the following information for each of the following financial years: 2023/24, 2024/25, and 2025/26.
To avoid any refusal under Section 43 (Commercial Sensitivity) or Section 40 (Personal Data), please provide all data in anonymised, aggregated, or summary format for the ICB region as a whole:
1. Total Active Contracts: What was the total number of active contracts containing an allocation of Units of Orthodontic Activity (UOAs) within your ICB area?
2. Underperformance Count (Below 96%): How many of these orthodontic contracts delivered less than 96% of their annual contracted UOA target?
3. Clawbacks Enforced: Of those contracts that fell below the 96% threshold, for how many did the ICB actively implement and execute a financial clawback (i.e., a recovery of funds on the Compass system)?
4. Clawbacks Waived/Excused: Of those contracts that fell below 96%, how many were granted a full or partial waiver, force majeure relief, or an agreement to carry forward 100% of the undelivered UOAs to the following year without financial clawback?
5. Total Value Recovered: What was the total monetary value (£) of UOA under-delivery clawed back/recovered by the ICB from orthodontic contract holders?
6. Contract Notices Issued: How many Breach Notices or Remedial Notices were issued to orthodontic contract holders specifically as a result of delivering below 96% of their UOA target?
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | ||
| 1 | Total Active Contracts: What was the total number of active contracts containing an allocation of Units of Orthodontic Activity (UOAs) within your ICB area? | 41 | 39 | 39 |
| 2 | Underperformance Count (Below 96%): How many of these orthodontic contracts delivered less than 96% of their annual contracted UOA target? | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 3 | Clawbacks Enforced: Of those contracts that fell below the 96% threshold, for how many did the ICB actively implement and execute a financial clawback (i.e., a recovery of funds on the Compass system)? | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 4 | Clawbacks Waived/Excused: Of those contracts that fell below 96%, how many were granted a full or partial waiver, force majeure relief, or an agreement to carry forward 100% of the undelivered UOAs to the following year without financial clawback? | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Total Value Recovered: What was the total monetary value (£) of UOA under-delivery clawed back/recovered by the ICB from orthodontic contract holders? | £447,994.69 | £83,589.98 | £12,644.40
(to be collected over the next 3 months) |
| 6 | Contract Notices Issued: How many Breach Notices or Remedial Notices were issued to orthodontic contract holders specifically as a result of delivering below 96% of their UOA target? | 2 | 3 | 1
(to be issued) |
