NHS publish plan to improve access to dental care
Lack of access to NHS dentists is a big issue in Luton
The feedback we received last year from Luton residents increased on dental access, who told us about the difficulty in trying to find an NHS dentist post the pandemic.
With living costs on the rise, our new findings show widening health inequalities as people in every part of the country struggle to pay for dental care. We have seen a shortage of NHS appointments, which has affected people on the lowest incomes the most, meaning they were less likely to have dental treatment than those on higher incomes.
What is in the NHS Dental Recovery Plan?
- NHS dentists will be given a ‘new patient’ payment of between £15-£50 (depending on treatment need) to treat around a million new patients who have not seen an NHS dentist in two years or more.
- People will be able to see which practices in their local area are accepting new patients on the NHS website and the NHS App.
- A new ‘Smile For Life’ programme will be rolled out to offer parents and parents-to-be advice for baby gums and milk teeth, with the aim that by the time children go to school, every child will see tooth brushing as a normal part of their day.
- Dental vans will help deliver dental treatment to people in rural and coastal areas.
- A water fluoridation programme will be rolled, which could reduce the number of tooth extractions due to decay in the most deprived areas of the country.
Responding, to the NHS Dental Recovery Plan, Healthwatch England CEO Louise Ansari said:
"Across England, we have seen major access issues in NHS dentistry. The rising cost of living has had a real impact, with our latest data showing that one in five people* have avoided going to the dentist because they can't afford it. A year ago, this figure was one in ten**.
“The dentistry recovery plan is a good start in addressing these serious problems. To widen access to NHS dentistry to those experiencing the greatest health inequalities, it’s vital dentists take up the new premium payments, promote availability of appointments to new patients and prioritise slots to people most in need.
“We also welcome the move to incentivise dentists to work in ‘dental deserts’ with golden hellos, to use dental vans in remote areas and to roll out more prevention schemes for children.
“However, in the long run more radical solutions are needed to get NHS dentistry back on track. We welcome the Government’s to commitment to consulting with the profession on the contract and urge this to happen as soon as possible.”We know that people will generally welcome the plan, but ultimately, they would like to be be able to register with a local NHS dentist in the same way as they can with a local GP, developing a trusted relationship with a dentist who can prevent poor oral health and treat any new problems or emergencies.
Healthwatch Luton will monitor the feedback we receive to find out whether these changes are making any improvement for Luton residents. We will continue to work with Healthwatch England and NHS England, moving NHS dentistry up the political agenda, to ensure that people’s views influence the future of NHS dentistry.
