As I continue to actively campaign for improvements to local NHS dental provision, I was delighted to join the debate secured by my neighbouring MP, Jerome Mayhew MP (Broadland), on Tuesday – in which the case for a new Dental School here in the East was vigorously put forward.

A new Dental School in Norwich would ensure that our region has some of the next generation of dentists being trained locally, and would also mean that existing dentists can begin to specialise in specific dental fields so as to strengthen the pool of skills available locally to patients (making them more likely to remain in the East, as well as attracting more dentists to the region).

Some of the most cutting edge and pioneering dental science is already being developed here in the East too. We should be doing all we can to ensure that science is being piloted here, with our own dentists leading the way in delivering it.

That’s why I am so firmly behind this campaign. It’s vital that we tackle the major shortage of NHS dentists in the region. (And, as we know, statistically, students that study at the likes of UEA and the University of the Arts are far more likely to settle locally than students elsewhere in the country. I believe we would see the same occurring were a Dental School established here).

Rest assured, I will continue to do all I can on this campaign – providing further updates on my website campaign page here.

To see my contribution regarding the shortage of NHS dentists in our region, please do see the video here.

To see my contribution regarding Norfolk’s frontline role in pioneering dental science, please see the video here.