Dental access raised at Prime Ministers Questions
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- Published: Tuesday, 24 April 2018 07:35
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Access to NHS dentists was raised in Prime Ministers Questions recently. A similar point was raised during oral Health Questions and the minister replied at some length. He also outlined progress on child prevention schemes, along the lines of Scotland’s Childsmile and promised an update on new contract discussions in the near future.
In reply to a question from Craig Mackinlay Conservative MP for South Thanet, asking about the effect of a practice closure in his constituency, the Prime Minister said: “I understand that when Church Hill dental practice closes, NHS England will be working with other dental practices in the area to ensure that services are available and that they can increase their capacity. A wider piece of work is being undertaken about dental services in east Kent—the needs and provision of those services—and I am sure, as I say, that my hon. Friend’s contribution to that will be welcomed.”
Tracy Brabin Labour MP for Batley and Spen asked what action the Department was taking to ensure that children have access to NHS dentists.
Junior Minister, Steve Brine replied at some length that children’s oral health was better than it has ever been, and 72% of five-year-olds in England are now decay free. He continued: “Of course, that means that 28% are not, which is why our Starting Well programme aims to increase access for young children in 13 high-need areas.” NHS England was also looking at making similar approaches available in the areas of greatest genuine local need.
Tracy Brabin asked additionally for the minister to agree that ‘the system of penalising dentists for not hitting targets and not paying them when they exceed targets has led to a situation where there are virtually no NHS dentists available for my young constituents?’
The Minister replied that the Department was testing the new ‘prevention-focused dental contract’, to improve access and outcomes for NHS dental treatment. He added that NHS England in her area ‘is currently finalising arrangements for extra funding to support dentists in offering additional access and places. That funding will be available from 1 April, so she and other Members should stand by their phones.’
He continued: “In England local authorities are responsible for assessing oral health needs and improving the oral health of their local populations rather than the centralised approach in Scotland. Many local authorities have programmes in place that contain elements similar to those within the Childsmile programme, for example tooth brushing programmes and community fluoride varnish schemes. Improving the oral health of young children in England is a Public Health England priority”. Their Children’s Oral Health Improvement Programme Board brings together over 20 stakeholder organisations that all have key leadership roles for children and young people. Its work programme includes learning from other successful approaches including the Childsmile initiative in Scotland.
David Crausby, Labour MP for Bolton North East asked what steps the Department was taking to encourage dentists to remain in the public sector.
Junior Minister, Steve Brine replied that in the latest year for which data is available 2016/17, 3,847 more dentists worked in the NHS than were working in 2006/07. He continued: “The Government is committed to supporting dentists and NHS dental services. The Department is continuing to test, alongside NHS England, a new NHS dental contract. It is our intention to work with the profession to develop a contract that remains attractive to dentists whilst delivering high quality preventative care needed by patients. We expect to publish the evaluation report from the first full year of testing the prototype system shortly.”
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