Firstly, practices providing NHS treatment are listed on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist
I am aware that demand currently exceeds capacity in South Devon, but individuals can access services at a dental practice in any area if it is accepting new patients.Locally, you can also contact the NHS Devon Dental helpline, which provides advice on where to find an NHS dentist: call 03330 063 300 or email accessdentalhelpline@nhs.net
Finally, urgent dental care is available via NHS 111 for those without a regular dentist.
I am acutely aware of the issues those living in Totnes and South Devon have in accessing dentists. Improving access to dental care is one of my key priorities and to that end, I have raised the subject many times in Westminster, both in debates and with the Secretary of State, and have discussed local dentistry plans with the Integrated Care Board, One Devon.
I have spoken directly with dentists in the area to allow me to fully understand why we are faced with this situation. I have also been working closely with the Peninsula Dental School and will soon be taking representatives to meet the Minister for Primary Care in Westminster so they can discuss the work they are doing and give a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities within the dental industry.
From a local perspective, One Devon has been working to develop a multi-agency roadmap along with partners including dental schools and local authority public health colleagues.
This includes:
- Working with primary care dental practices to support them to continue to take on new patients, as well as working rapidly to procure additional capacity. This includes recently procuring a new contract in the Exeter area.
- Implementing a new pathway for those without a regular dental practice but who have dental issues that need addressing imminently. This stabilisation pilot will run for 18 months, with three practices in Devon already seeing patients and many more having expressed an interest in participating.
- Providing additional urgent dental care appointments that people can access by calling NHS 111. There are an additional 406 appointments every week across the South West, with 86 of these in Devon.
- Taking part in a national pilot called ‘Child Friendly Dental Practices’ where the oral health needs of children and young people are prioritised, with a practice established in Paignton.
- Supporting an oral health improvement initiative called First Dental Steps, where health visitors and midwives are trained to give oral healthcare advice to families with children under two, and have oral healthcare packs to give to families in need.
- Commissioning additional orthodontic capacity in Devon.
- Running a pilot in Devon supervising children in early years settings to brush their teeth, and procuring this pilot for a further three years.
I hope to be able to provide further information on the pilot schemes mentioned above in the coming weeks.
From a Government perspective, they have made it clear that improving access to NHS dentistry will be one of the key priorities for the health service over the coming months.
In recent months, the Government has been working with the dental profession to further reduce barriers to patients accessing NHS dentists. This includes changing the way dentists are paid for treatments like root canal, improving communication with patients and making it easier to recruit overseas dentists. These reforms will allow the best performing dental practices to see more patients and ensure better use of other dental professionals such as dental therapists, hygienists and nurses. Changes will also see dentists rewarded more fairly for complex care.
Please do be assured that access to NHS dentists is very much on mine and the Government’s agenda and I hope that we will see a good, NHS provision, back in South Devon very soon.