Covid-19: Dental Services

I praise Fleur Anderson for obtaining this debate and acknowledge that while many practices are meeting NHS targets, there is a concern about oral cancer detection dropping by one-third. I advocate for inoculations for dental staff to be prioritised and suggest measures like fluoridation of water supplies in deprived areas as part of long-term prevention strategies.

Access to dentists in North West Norfolk is inadequate, particularly for children. Prior to the pandemic, my constituency had the highest population per dentist across Norfolk and Waveney, with only 65% of contracted activity delivered. During the pandemic, access has worsened due to lost appointments and a lack of knowledge about urgent dental care. There are challenges in attracting dentists locally but positive developments like opening surgeries have helped. The NHS planned to open another practice before the pandemic but those plans are now on hold. Constituents want short, medium, and long-term improvements.

Cornwall faces exceptionally long waiting lists for NHS dental treatment due to population growth and limited dentists per practice servicing more than 8,000 patients. The current contract is not effective in the current environment. We need to look at short-term recruitment solutions and review the 2006 contract. Managing costs better could help improve access. There are health inequalities affecting remote areas.

Before the pandemic, there were issues with recruitment of dentists and lack of accountability in NHS England. During the pandemic, dental staff faced significant risks and a reduction in capacity. The proposal to impose a 45% target of UDAs has been described as irresponsible by local dentists. A short-term plan is needed to address immediate challenges and a long-term plan for proper accountability and full national coverage.

The pandemic has created changes in dental care, causing backlogs due to lockdowns. Dentists are facing patient cancellations and staff issues during the new lockdown. Government support is needed without penalising practices for doing the right thing during the pandemic. The 45% target seems unfair in current conditions. Patients are reluctant to attend non-emergency appointments, and dentists should not be put at risk unnecessarily. Dentists should be recognised as key workers and prioritised for vaccinations.

The impact of the pandemic on dental services has been profound, with millions of lost appointments and a significant backlog. While supporting the concept of clearing this backlog, he opposes the mechanism that penalises dentists for not meeting targets, urging the Government to reconsider the penalty system and support dentists further.

She criticised the imposition of activity targets during a pandemic, arguing it is unrealistic. She called on the Minister to clarify that no agreement was reached with the dental profession and urged the Government to rethink its approach and move away from UDAs.

He expressed concern about the current targets set for dental practices during lockdown, suggesting these are impossible to meet. He called for triage to be included in activity measures and increased targets to be delayed until the situation improves.

He highlighted the pre-existing demand for NHS dentistry and the impact of the pandemic, arguing that imposing normal levels of activity during abnormal times is counterproductive. He emphasised the need to grow dental services rather than introduce damaging targets.

Made a brief comment supporting Duncan Baker's speech.

Critiqued the government for failing to reach an agreement with dentists, emphasising concerns over high covid rates deterring patients from visiting dentists under new activity targets. Raised issues of potential unsafe patient volumes and financial penalties for non-compliance.

Discussed pre-pandemic dental care issues in North Devon, highlighting the strain on NHS dentists due to long distances and high costs. Addressed concerns about private dentists filling gaps left by underfunded NHS practices.

Explored the impact of the pandemic on dental services across the UK, noting difficulties and safety concerns faced by dentists. Emphasised the broader health implications of poor access to dental care and highlighted issues affecting young associate dentists.

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Putney on securing the debate. The coronavirus pandemic has had a widespread impact, leading to financial losses in dental practices and an urgent need for government support. According to the Association of Dental Groups, dental practices in England suffered from average 45% losses in 2020, with business owners expecting fewer staff next year due to economic pressures.

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I join colleagues in commending my hon. Friend the Member for Putney for securing this debate. The dental profession has adapted well during the pandemic but faces challenges such as a backlog of 20 million appointments lost between March and November 2020. NHS England imposed new activity targets on dental practices, causing concerns among dentists about practicality and fairness. There is an urgent need to negotiate agreements that support both dentists' livelihoods and patient care.

I spoke to the hon. Gentleman beforehand regarding the impact on dental technicians who provide essential services such as crowns and bridges. It is predicted that 1,000 of these registered dental technicians will lose their jobs by July 2021, which could severely hinder future dental care provision.

Congratulated MPs on securing the debate and expressed gratitude towards dentists and their teams. Emphasised the impact of the pandemic on dental services, highlighting efforts to ensure patient safety while maintaining service delivery.

Called for reassessment of targets set by the government due to challenges faced by dentists and patients. Highlighted concerns over financial insecurity and destabilisation of dental provision, urging the Minister to meet with the British Dental Association.