FOI2026/2097

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am requesting recorded information concerning the Dental Recruitment Incentive Scheme (DRIS, also known as the “Golden Hello” scheme) in NHS Greater Manchester ICB, from its introduction in 2024/25 to the most recent date available.

This follows your response to my previous request, reference 2084/2026, which stated that two dentists had commenced through DRIS and both had subsequently left their DRIS posts. You also stated that the ICB did not hold information about their previous employment or geographical location, and that no specific DRIS reporting was requested from dental practices.

I am not requesting names or other personally identifiable information. I seek existing recorded information and documents, rather than new analysis.

1. Assessing if additional post would bring NHS dental capacity before funding

I would like to understand what information NHS Greater Manchester held or relied upon when approving these appointments, and how it assessed whether they were likely to increase NHS dental capacity in the targeted area.

Please provide any existing guidance, application forms or assessment criteria used by the ICB to approve DRIS-funded posts, specifically insofar as they address:

a) Whether a recruit was already providing NHS dental services, and their previous practice or geographical area.

b) The recruit’s existing NHS activity and the expected level of NHS activity after taking up the post, including whether the receiving practice’s existing activity is considered.

c) Whether an appointment is expected to create additional NHS dental capacity in the targeted area, rather than fund existing activity or transfer activity from another practice or area.

If these matters are not formally assessed, please provide any existing document describing the basis on which DRIS applications are approved.

2. The two dentists who left their DRIS posts

For the two dentists identified in your previous response, please provide any existing records concerning their departures, including relevant notifications, correspondence or case records, with personal information redacted where necessary.

In particular, please provide recorded information, where held, about:

a) The month and year each dentist commenced and left their DRIS post, and the recorded reason for departure.

b) Whether either continued providing NHS dentistry elsewhere, including any recorded information about a move to another practice or geographical area.

c) Their agreed and actual NHS activity while in post, and whether either departure was considered a breach of scheme requirements.

d) Whether repayment of the incentive was sought, recovered, waived or otherwise adjusted.

I recognise that the ICB may not hold all this information. Please confirm where the relevant categories of information are not held.

3. Monitoring, evaluation and information flows

Please provide any existing monitoring or evaluation documents, reporting templates, or guidance describing how the ICB assesses whether DRIS increases NHS dental capacity after recruitment.

Please include any recorded procedures for comparing recruits’ NHS activity before and after taking up a post, assessing changes in the receiving practice’s NHS activity, or monitoring departures and continued NHS employment.

Please also provide any existing guidance or reporting specifications setting out:

a) What information DRIS-funded practices are required or expected to provide or retain for monitoring purposes.

b) What DRIS information the ICB is required or expected to submit to NHS England, and copies of any relevant reports or returns submitted by the ICB.

c) Which organisation is responsible for monitoring compliance and evaluating the scheme’s effectiveness.

An excel document was sent to the requester with this response.  If you require a copy of the full response, together with the attachments, please contact NHS GM’s FOI team – nhsgm.foi@nhs.net