What I’ve been doing on… Dentistry
I know how much you care about Dentistry – I’ve heard countless stories of the struggle to access an NHS dentist and the impact this is having. That’s why I’ve been working hard to secure the action to tackle this crisis and why the Government is acting.
My very first question in Parliament was to urge action on the dentistry crisis in Norfolk – a place the Health Secretary called ‘the Sahara of dental deserts.’
A New Dental School
We’re the only region without a dental undergraduate school – that needs to change and I’m calling for a new dental school at the University of East Anglia
In September I secured a meeting for Norfolk MPs with the Heatlh Minister, to discuss our call to establish the dentistry school.
In November, we welcomed news of the Greater Norwich Growth Board agreeing 1.5 million pounds of funding for a dentistry school in Norwich.
In April this year I met with the Minister again to push on the timeline for a dental school – something he himself has called a ‘no brainer’. I’m hopeful we’ll get some good news soon so watch this space!
Government Action
The NHS dental contract is not fit for purpose and the Government is committed to reforming it. We need action now, and that’s why the Government has set out a dental rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments per year.
In February this year, the Government announced 21,000 of these urgent dental appointments for Norfolk and Waveney, in a bid to end DIY Dentistry. This is already making a difference.
Local Action
I’ve also been questioning our local NHS directly about their underspend from previous years and discussing ways to ensure the effective use of dental funding to tackle the high need we have.
There’s lots more to be done and I want to assure you I’ll keep the pressure up to get the change we all need so everyone can access an NHS dentist.