No NHS Dentistry - Council versus ICB
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- Published: Friday, 27 September 2024 07:34
- Written by Peter Ingle
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As NHS dentistry fades away local government may start taking legal action against ICBs.
The Isle of Wight Council is threatening legal action over the Island‘s ‘grossly inadequate‘ NHS dental care provision. Following a vote at a recent Council meeting in Newport, the Council has said that it intends to hold the ICB to account for its responsibility in ensuring NHS dental services are provided to an adequate standard.
Councillor Warren Drew raised significant deficiencies in NHS dental care provision at the meeting with a motion that described the services as a fundamental right for all citizens.
His motion stated that: “The responsibility for ensuring adequate provision of NHS dental services lies with the Integrated Care Board (ICB). However, it is clear that the situation is not being addressed by the ICB with the level of urgency and resourcefulness that this disaster demands.”
He also noted in his submission that the Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB had underspent by over £12 million last year.
The motion also read: “Areas such as Yorkshire and Humber have adopted flexible commissioning on a sessional basis to treat patients with urgent dental need – we need to explore similar creative approaches”.
The council voted to seek an urgent response from the ICB to address deficiencies and provide a rapid and workable plan for improving access. In addition the council is considering taking legal action to guarantee NHS dental care is provided on a meaningful and accessible basis for all residents.
James Roach, director for primary care at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB, said: “Since MyDentist in Freshwater announced their decision to close, NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight has been working with the local MP, councillors and local NHS dental providers to ensure patients in the area would still be able to access NHS dental services.
“While we continue to keep local councillors and other public representatives updated, we are unable to disclose further information due to the commercial sensitivities that surround negotiations and NHS contracts that need to be put in place first.
“This complex work is being carried out as quickly as possible and we greatly appreciate the role that councillors and other public representatives have played in informing and reassuring the public that NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight is working with them towards a solution for the local community.
“We can also confirm that the mobile dental unit run by Dentaid and commissioned by the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight will be visiting the area on an increased basis to support patients with their dental needs in Freshwater.”
The Isle of Wight Council, the local authority for the Isle of Wight in England, is a county council which also performs the functions of a district council. It is has been under no overall control since 2021, and led by a coalition of independent, Green, and Our Island councillors. This may account for some jockeying amongst the Islands elected representatives.
Not to be outdone, the newly elected Labour MP for West Wight, Richard Quigley, is involved with a petition that was set up after the only dental practice treating NHS patients west of Newport confirmed it would be closing on October, 31. Mr Quigley will present the petition to Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and Health Minister, Stephen Kinnock.
In August the mydentist Group gave the ICB notice of its intention to close the practice. Currently, no dental practice is taking on any more NHS patients, other than one surgery in East Cowes which is taking children only.
Mr Quigley said: “I have spoken to dentists on the Island and the ICB and everyone wants something to happen, but nothing is happening at the moment. I am pushing as hard as I can.
“We are in touch with mydentist and, as a goodwill gesture, we are asking them to leave their equipment to give a new practice a head-start and the ICB is open to making something work.”
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