What’s New in Dentistry?

It has been a bad time for anyone trying to see a dentist. 

The post-pandemic continuation of a huge backlog of dental work and an outdated NHS/dentists contract led to a lot of frustration for constituents everywhere. 

It’s not because we don’t have enough dentists, we do: but not enough of them are doing work for the NHS at the fraction of a cost of private work. Not all my constituents realise that dental surgeries, like GP surgeries, are private businesses: the practice has to pay salaries, business rates, electricity, insurance etc from what they’re paid by individuals and the NHS. 

So if the NHS doesn’t pay enough to pay bills, the risk is dentists stop doing NHS work and focus on better paid private work.

What has been done to sort this out? You can either read on for more detail, or to try something new, watch this video explain what’s being changed nationally and locally: https://fb.watch/q5LpIbi8-z/.  

As soon as it became clear this was a problem, some 18 months ago, I focused on encouraging Ministers to update the NHS contract and on getting funding for services devolved to our local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB), so that they could tackle high priority issues first.

I reported back to you a year ago (https://www.richardgraham.org/news/whats-happening-nhs-dentistry) and now is the right time for an update is right, both on local plans and the new national NHS Dental Recovery Plan. 

Richard in a local dentist practice that does take NHS patients

What does the NHS Dental Recovery Plan include?

• It creates over 2.5 million more NHS dental appointments over the next 12 months
• Invests £200 million (on top of the already £3 billion invested in our dental services every year) to prioritise those unable to access appointments for over two years
• Offers greater financial support (‘golden hellos’) to dentists taking on more NHS patients for at least three years in areas where recruitment and retention of dentists is difficult
• Introduces the ‘Smile for Life’ initiative, with mobile dental teams for under-served areas, treatment for children and encouragement to reception age children encouragement to brush their teeth in schools

Local Prevention Campaign

Gloucester is moving fast to roll-out the NHS England supervised toothbrushing campaign, delivered by At Home Dental programme, with 35 schools in Gloucester prioritised. Just under half have so far signed up and I hope that number will increase fast

Teachers will help teach young children how to brush their teeth with toothbrushes and toothpaste provided and, starting early, our ICB has also set up a new ‘First Dental Steps’ programme for some children aged 9-12 months to ensure good oral hygiene is taught early on.

Local Help For Adults

Last month NHS Gloucestershire: 

• Commissioned an additional 152 stabilisation appointments and an additional 51 urgent appointments per week
• Added in December 2023 40 urgent appointments a week via 111
• Signed up several dental practices to start to offer additional appointments each week

It’s also worth knowing that dentists accepting NHS patients are now required to publicly list which patients they are accepting and for what services. You can find details at: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist/ 

Longer term I'm a big believer in 'home grown' skills, and am delighted the Gloucestershire ICB is considering a Centre for Dental Excellence to train new dentists locally. Meanwhile, I also hope that new contracts will encourage more dentists to take up NHS work with the first ever NHS Workforce Plan, increasing training capacity by 40%

So anyone needing an operation please use the increased appointments, booking via 111. 

Anyone with children or grandchildren at school please encourage their school to join the schools tooth brushing programme.

Lastly, I am delighted one local dentist is re-launching with more NHS patients shortly. More on that soon ....

Locally and nationally changes are coming; these are all badly needed steps in he right direction and I'll be monitoring them closely, as with the new Pharmacy First programme to ease GP waiting lists.

Best regard 

P.S. If you have any thoughts on the new plans do let me know on [email protected]