The Conservative Government has announced plans to create an extra 2.5 million dental appointments in a success for local MP Ben Everitt who has been campaigning for better access to dentistry in Milton Keynes.
Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, has held regular meetings with Dental Minister Andrea Leadsom about better dental services for the city and also spoke to local staff and residents at Highclere Care Home in Downs Barn about the issue last week.
Following the Government revealing its NHS Dental Recovery Plan today he also spoke in the House of Commons about the impact this will have on local residents in MK.
Backed by £200 million of new Government funding, the plan sets out a package of measures to deliver 2.5 million additional NHS dental appointments over the next 12 months, ensuring they are where they needed most, and expanding preventative care for younger children to help reduce tooth decay.
To help improve access in the short term, new dental vans are being launched to help reach more isolated communities, including in rural and coastal areas.
In the longer term, around 240 dentists will be offered one off payments of up to £20,000 for working in underserved areas for up to three years, helping to attract new NHS dentists and improve provision of care in areas with the highest demand.
Further measures include introducing a New Patient Premium payment to incentivise dentists to treat around a million new patients who have not seen an NHS dentist in two years or more.
Trainee dental places will be expanded by 40 per cent as part of the first ever NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, as the Conservative Government looks to target the expansion into areas of the country which are underserved by the dental workforce.
Expanded prevention care is also being rolled out for younger children to help reduce tooth decay and improve the nation’s oral health. The Smile for Life programme will offer parents further advice for baby gums and milk teeth with babies and toddlers in nurseries having tooth brushing as part of the daily routine, so that every child in primary school will see tooth brushing as a normal part of their day.
Ben Everitt MP said: “Everybody should be able to see a dentist when they need to so I’ve been banging on about access to dentistry to Ministers and I’m delighted to see the new NHS Dental Recovery Plan which will deliver more dentists, more appointments, and more incentives.
“I know there have been issues locally in Milton Keynes due to backlogs caused by the pandemic, alongside Labour’s reckless over-expansion plans without infrastructure in place like dentists, but this plan will get us back on track.
“We’re getting on with the job delivering for the people of Milton Keynes, while Labour-run Wales has the worst access to dentistry in the UK and our ambitious commitments far exceed the pledges made by Labour and will ensure that everyone can access the right care and stay healthy for years to come.”
Victoria Atkins MP, the Health and Social Care Secretary, commented: “Dentistry is a priority for this government. I know from my experience representing a rural and coastal constituency in Lincolnshire how frustrating it is for people who cannot get a dentist appointment, especially after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dentistry.
“We have seen big improvements over the past year, but now we are going much further. I’m determined to deliver faster, simpler and fairer access to NHS dentistry for patients and this plan will help anyone who has not been able to see a dentist in the past two years to do so.
“The long-term decisions we are taking will help ensure that good oral health is available to all, wherever you live and whatever your background.”
