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Dental Care: Durham
24 May 2023
Lead MP
Mary Foy
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
NHSTaxation
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Mary Foy raised concerns about dental care: durham in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Mary Foy highlighted the crisis in NHS dental services, particularly in County Durham where access to dentists is severely limited. She cited examples of constituents unable to find NHS dentists despite urgent needs such as post-transplant health monitoring and pregnancy exemptions. The speech also mentioned preventable issues like tooth decay leading to A&E admissions for children. Foy stressed that the problem lies with the Government's outdated dental contract rather than the dentists themselves, pushing them towards private practice due to financial constraints. She called for a comprehensive national dental strategy focusing on prevention and reform of the NHS dental contract.
Hon. Friend
Lab
Agreed with Foy that there is a political will issue regarding the NHS dentistry crisis.
Government Response
Minister Neil O'Brien acknowledged the challenges in NHS dentistry but emphasised ongoing reforms. He confirmed plans to overhaul the 2006 contract and work with the British Dental Association. The Government introduced measures like more bands for dental activity units, minimum UDA values, and 110% delivery of UDAs. These steps aim to increase dentist attraction to NHS practices and address regional disparities in access. A comprehensive national dental plan is forthcoming to improve payment models and access for new patients, including historical valuation adjustments and preventive measures in schools. O'Brien also cautioned against using incomplete data for accurate reflections of dentistry activity trends.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.