NHS Dentistry: Waveney

Opened the debate

Mr. Aldous highlighted the longstanding crisis in NHS dentistry within his constituency and surrounding areas, exacerbated by dentist retirements and reduced funding over the past decade. He cited specific closures of dental practices due to recruitment difficulties, resulting in a critical shortage of available dentists for new patients. The British Dental Association's survey revealed that almost half of respondents planned to leave NHS dentistry in the next 12 months, while two-thirds estimated they would not meet their activity targets. Mr. Aldous emphasised the need for prevention-focused measures and reforms to the current dental contract, particularly concerning high-capacity ventilators for dental surgeries and recognition of overseas-trained dentists.

Government Response

The Minister acknowledged the longstanding issues in NHS dentistry, exacerbated by the pandemic's constraints on aerosol-generating procedures. She noted that current thresholds were set based on infection control and prioritised urgent care for vulnerable groups while monitoring monthly progress. The Minister emphasised the importance of flexible commissioning to focus on priority areas like urgent care and high-risk patients. Support was provided through a web-based programme, reservation slots for urgent dental care, and maintenance of 600 urgent dental centres nationwide. She highlighted efforts towards contract reform by April 2022, aimed at improving retention and recruitment while focusing on prevention and oral health inequalities.