NHS Dentistry: South-west — [Martin Vickers in the Chair]

NHS dentistry faces an existential threat, with over 13 million people unable to access dental care. In Gloucestershire, only a third of adults have seen an NHS dentist in the last two years, and one in two children was seen by an NHS dentist, well below the national average. Many constituents are waiting up to four years for appointments.

Expressed concerns about the impact of proposed increases in employer national insurance contributions on NHS dentistry, highlighting that over 100,000 children have been admitted to hospital with rotting teeth since 2018. Emphasised the need for guaranteed access to NHS dentists and preventive dental healthcare.

The MP highlighted the scarcity of NHS dental practices in rural constituencies, noting that working families cannot afford private care. She expressed particular concern for children's health, emphasizing the inequity faced by kinship carers who struggle to find NHS dentists for their grandchildren. The MP also stressed two main reasons for the crisis: underfunding and low morale among NHS dentists due to stress and budget constraints.

Suggests moving towards a GP-like model in dentistry where dentists are reimbursed for work and rewarded for preventive care, solving the problem comprehensively.

She highlighted the challenges in accessing NHS dentistry, noting that Lincolnshire has more dentists per capita than before but faces issues due to concentration of dentists in urban areas. She asked whether funding for initiatives like the patient premium and golden hello would continue beyond their current timelines. Johnson also questioned the Minister about workforce planning and contract reform.

Cites Lord Darzi's review, urging the government to develop a contract that balances activity and prevention; notes South Devon has no dentists taking on NHS patients anymore.

I am concerned about the impact of the lack of NHS dentistry on children, as the gap in registrations since covid is creating a generation of children who are not used to going to the dentist. We must reverse this trend to avoid future problems.

Ms Young highlighted the severe shortage of NHS dental appointments in south Gloucestershire, where over half of children did not receive any treatment last year. She cited a local dentist who had to stop NHS work due to an unworkable contract and mentioned cases where constituents were unable to find suitable NHS care or faced barriers such as high costs for emergency treatments despite being entitled to free services. Additionally, she pointed out the issue of missed appointments that deprive other patients of needed care and emphasised the need for a new dental contract system that rewards preventive care.

States that only 32.6% of children in Wokingham have seen a dentist in two years; calls for proper funding of NHS primary care.

Highlights importance of public health initiatives and sharing best practices across local areas to address dental issues effectively.

In Somerset, fewer than half of people have access to an NHS dentist. There are 64,000 children who did not see a dentist last year, putting Somerset in the worst-hit 5% of local authorities. The situation has worsened since 2015 with only 32% accessing dental care. Asked when the timeline for negotiations on dental contract reforms will be available.

The MP noted that fewer than half of children in Cornwall have seen an NHS dentist in the past year, reflecting a worsening situation. She praised local initiatives such as bespoke negotiations with dental surgeries to retain NHS patients for under-18s, elderly, and vulnerable people. The MP also asked the Minister about health hubs, emergency dental vans, and the power ICBs hold to enter into bespoke contracts.

Considers situation in south-west replicated across UK; references survey of Northern Irish dentists planning to reduce or end health service commitments. Urges government action.

Highlights Cheltenham's dental desert issue and residents being referred to distant regions for treatment; thanks local campaigners for their efforts.

Highlights severe deprivation in Camborne, Redruth, and Hayle; people choosing private dental care over basic necessities. Urges immediate action on emergency dental care across the south-west.

Expresses shock that recommendations from a 15-year-old Health and Social Care Committee report remain unimplemented. Urges immediate action.

She highlighted a significant decline in the number of dentists in Devon, from 549 to 497 since 2020. Only 34.7% of adults and 46.6% of children have seen an NHS dentist recently compared to higher rates ten years ago. Rebecca noted that many people are on a waiting list for NHS dentists in Devon, although the existing contract was designed to serve only 55% of the adult population. She raised concerns about training dentists and awarding new NHS contracts, suggesting flexibility is needed due to the desperate need for more dentists. She cited statistics showing that 18% of dental patients attending Derriford hospital's emergency department are under 20 years old.

In Somerset, the percentage of adults who have seen a dentist has dropped by 20% over the past decade. Calls for guaranteed access to NHS dentists for urgent and emergency care.

Calls for a timeline for reviewing the dental contract beyond emergency cases; suggests Secretary of State should work on preventive medicine in dentistry.

As a GP, I see patients suffering from severe dental issues due to lack of NHS dentistry and need for urgent care. The current dental contract is restrictive, leading to an £86 million underspend. Solutions include prevention through better diet, innovative projects like early dental checks for pre-school children, and providing more funding for urgent care.

In Torbay, over 2,200 people are on the waiting list for a dentist, with more than half of adults not seeing a dentist in two years and a third of children not seen in one year. Residents face severe health impacts due to lack of dental care, highlighting challenges faced by coastal and rural communities.

Mr. Race highlighted the severe shortage of NHS dentists in Exeter, with a significant drop in children's dental appointments from 61% to 47% since 2016, well below the national average. He cited statistics showing over 40,000 children admitted for tooth extraction across the UK in 2021-22, and noted that tooth decay remains the leading cause of hospital admission among six-to-ten-year-olds in Exeter.

Tom Hayes highlighted the case of Jonathon Carr-Brown, whose early cancer diagnosis was facilitated by NHS dentistry. He emphasized the need for more dental appointments and workers, advocating for local hygienists and therapists to use their full scope of practice. Hayes also stressed the importance of accurate information on NHS dental services through digital platforms and the necessity of a unified health record system. Questioned why no meaningful reform happened over 14 years of Conservative government despite promises in the 2010 manifesto.

Ms Slade discussed the difficulties faced by NHS dentists in rural communities, highlighting that dental vans were deemed too expensive and potentially disruptive. She mentioned a local practice's decision to invest instead in an additional graduate dentist but noted how increased national insurance costs are impacting this investment negatively. Ms Slade cited historical context about the NHS providing dental care universally from its inception and highlighted current challenges such as patients resorting to self-extraction due to lack of access, with fewer than a third of adults receiving dental care. She called for immediate action on the underspend in dental budgets and emphasised urgent cases needing attention. I have been on to the survey, and it is incredibly limited. It would be helpful if there were a way for the public to be encouraged to introduce more freeform responses.

Royal United hospitals in Bath saw nearly 260 people last year with serious dental issues, largely due to lack of preventive care appointments. Urges focus on NHS dentistry to reduce A&E visits.