Dental health is a crucial part of NHS services and it is vital that EVERYONE can access the support they need when they need it.

That’s why I welcomed the Norfolk and Waveney NHS Integrated Care Board’s latest MP briefing this afternoon – the latest such meeting as the ICB work with ourselves, and other partners across Norfolk, to try and tackle the pressures so many constituents face when trying to obtain an appointment or secure treatment.

Today, ICB officials updated us on the immediate steps they have been taking since they took on responsibility for NHS dental commissioning back in April. Some progress has already been made, but there remains much to be done. The ICB confirmed that they intend to announce a further one year plan by September setting out the additional measures they will pursue to tackle immediate issues in the NHS dental system.

Looking ahead, the ICB wish to develop their own dental strategy by 2024, which will set out their local commissioning approach for the next five years. All of us, as local MPs, are keen to support that work and are committed to working with the ICB and partners to lobby Department for Health and Social Care ministers and officials, as well as seek more local solutions also.

The next MP briefing is set to take place in September, but our collective efforts (including our campaign for a new, full undergraduate training School of Dentistry in Norfolk) will very much continue over the summer – with regular conversations ongoing, and each MP raising individual cases on behalf of constituents.

This continues to be a central focus of mine and I will provide further updates as I work with parliamentary colleagues, the ICB and partners to drive forward improvements in our local NHS dental provision.

To learn more about my active campaign work on this issue, please visit my website here.