Access to NHS Dentists

Steff Aquarone, the Member of Parliament for North Norfolk, asked the Minister for Care, Stephen Kinnock, what steps the Department plans to take to improve access to NHS dentists. The Minister acknowledged the significant challenge, stating that 13 million people are unable to see a dentist due to the Conservative party's actions over the past 14 years. He outlined the government's rescue plan, which includes providing 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruiting dentists to underserved areas. In a follow-up, Steff Aquarone raised the issue of unallocated units of dental treatment being moved away from his constituency, which has the lowest number of dentists per head in the country. He asked the Minister to commit to protecting unallocated dental funds in North Norfolk. The Minister responded that the government is in ongoing dialogue with the British Dental Association to address long-term issues, including units of dental activity, and that they will work to address these matters rapidly. Claire Hazelgrove, the Member of Parliament for Filton and Bradley Stoke, congratulated the Health Secretary and his team, and thanked the Minister for his advocacy in the previous Parliament for her constituents who lack dental access. She asked the Minister to provide assurances that the issues of infrastructure and housing will be linked together as the government looks to build 1.5 million homes, to ensure that dental deserts are not created and that the necessary infrastructure is in place. The Minister responded by outlining key aspects of the dental rescue plan, including 700,000 more appointments, incentives for new graduate dentists to work in underserved areas, and a focus on preventative measures such as supervised toothbrushing for young children.