Toothbrushing Consolation Prize for Dental Deserts
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- Published: Monday, 30 January 2023 08:22
- Written by Peter Ingle
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With the dental access crisis continuing, and many of the government’s own MPs demanding that something is done, a variety of measures are being used to try and halt the persistent negative headlines
One of the many Conservatives who has been pressing in parliament for action to improve the availability of NHS dental care is Peter Aldous MP. He represents Waveney in Suffolk, often described as a dental desert. The county also happens to be the birthplace of the pressure group Toothless in Suffolk which has since grown into the Toothless in England campaign.
Peter Aldous has asked for a number of measures including reform of the UDA contract and a dental school to encourage dental professionals to come to the area. He has also said that there needs to be a prevention policy as well as accountability through the new Integrated Care systems. Aldous has commented on the failings of the current procurement system in his constituency. He cited the case of a contract that was awarded for the out-of-hours service in Norfolk. According to him, two years later, the company that won the contract did not have either regular dentists or premises, and did not work anywhere near the hours stipulated in the contract. In June 2022 he called for “transparency and full accountability, through the new emerging Integrated Care Systems.”
It appears that the ICSs may be about to deliver on one of the Waveney MP’s requests. BBC News has reported that The Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), has discussed a package giving £966,514 to Suffolk County Council, to include funding for:
- Targeting vulnerable and isolated communities over five years
- Expansion of supervised toothbrushing schemes over two years
- Dental varnishing programmes in the community, including the hiring of two community nurses, over two years. According to the Ipswich Star the community varnishing programme, in which a varnish-rich fluoride is applied to the enamel, is priced at £205,341 including staff costs.
A further £320,928.50 was earmarked for North East Essex, to be distributed by Essex County Council, which included supervised toothbrushing schemes and oral health training on a smaller scale.
One of Peter Aldous’s other wishes may also have been granted with the formation of a centre for dental development on the University of Suffolk’s campus in Ipswich. The centre will be run as a social dental enterprise in order to attract and train newly-qualified dentists to work within the dental facility to supply additional NHS dental provision across Suffolk. It is hoped that by providing training it will attract out of area dentists who may then choose to stay nearby.
A local source has told GDPUK that the head of the new ICB had said he was determined to do something about dentistry.
The money for these projects will go to local authorities rather than practices and may well come from handed back NHS contracts, of which there are no shortage in the area.
It has been suggested that the ICB may go on to set up a dental emergency service, once again, not based on existing practices.
That by-passing troublesome contactors and dental practices is now an appealing approach to delivering oral health in this area, could indicate how other ICBs will behave, once they turn their attention to dentistry.
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