When we think of our health, too often, as a society, we neglect to consider the importance of our teeth. Dental health is a crucial part of NHS services however and it is vital that EVERYONE can access the support they need.
In recent months, I’ve received dozens of emails and letters from constituents unable to register with an NHS practice. Many more have been unable to book an appointment with the dentists they are already registered with, while some have struggled to get the urgent care they desperately needed when they’ve had a problem too.
That’s why I have been paying so much attention to the very serious challenges currently facing the sector. Although this is clearly a national issue, there is most certainly a significant problem locally here in Norfolk and so, in addition to raising the specific cases of affected individuals with the local NHS, I have been in regular conversations with local dental surgeries to hear of their experiences on the front line. In November, I also visited Plummer and Associates Dental Surgery in Wymondham to hear their views first-hand.
The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly had a massive impact on the situation. Once allowed to resume services, practices were required to implement the advice of the Government and Chief Dental Officer and prioritise urgent cases and those with outstanding treatments. Routine examinations were therefore reduced and unfortunately further affected by the necessary infection control measures that had to be adhered too.
Despite those challenges, as we move out of the pandemic and towards a more ‘normal’ way of life once again, I am pleased to hear that positive progress is being made. Many dental practices are now back to fulfilling over 85% of the appointments and procedures they are contracted to, and I have been assured that the Chief Dental Officer has made clear to practices that they will be expected to deliver on 100% of those from April onwards.
That being said, there remains much more that needs to be done to address the core problems that the pandemic has exacerbated and it is for that reason that I have been actively raising this issue with the local NHS (including the Clinical Commissioning Group) here in Norfolk. I have also written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, and his team of Ministers and officials to highlight the very real concerns of residents here in Norfolk – as I did when his predecessor was in post too.
I welcomed the Government’s recent announcement that an additional £50 million of funding has now been committed across England to open up an extra 350,000 dental appointments for patients (with nearly £6 million of that coming to our region), and I have been assured that the Department for Health and Social Care is working closely with NHS England, NHS Improvement and the Chief Dental Officer for England to increase the levels of service available as fast and as safely as possible.
I monitored the recent Adjournment Debate in the House on these matters and I will do the same when the upcoming Westminster Hall Debate takes place too. Please be assured however that I continue to speak with Ministers and officials, as well as our local NHS, on a regular basis to ensure the concerns of my constituents are being heard and to ask that any additional assistance available is shared. I fully appreciate that this is a source of worry and frustration for so many.
To stay up to date with my work on this issue, please do check my website for further webstories in the weeks ahead.
To see more about my recent visit to Plummer and Associates Dental Surgery in Wymondham, please click to watch my video.
