Dentistry Given Pass the Parcel Treatment by Minister
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- Published: Wednesday, 04 October 2023 07:29
- Written by Peter Ingle
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It cannot be easy being a junior health minister, tasked with representing the department and government, especially on matters relating to NHS dentistry.
When Neil O’Brien MP was appointed Under Secretary of State for Primary Care and Public Health Social Care in September 2022 hopes were moderately high. This was not his first ministerial post and his background marked him as a potential heavyweight, including a PPE degree, think tank duties, and special adviser roles to both George Osborne and Theresa May. He has been included in lists of top British political influencers (Total politics) and described as one of the “New Political Elite” (Sunday Times)
Like his predecessors, when faced with awkward questions about dentistry, he has loyally responded with novel accounting, promises of reform, and even claims of recovery. But as the dental access crisis rolls on, he has adopted a fresh approach, recently trialled in commons written answers.
Rachael Maskell MP (Labour/co-operative York Central) is well informed about dentistry. Having seen her constituency becoming a dental desert, and as a member of the Health Select committee, she has frequently asked questions in the commons about NHS dental care. She was able to speak knowledgeably to the Local Dental Committee Conference this year, when no government representative was willing to.
In one question, the York MP asked the minister when he planned to publish the Dental Plan, and what steps he was taking to ensure that the dental health needs of local populations are met by integrated care boards.
O’ Briens reply was that the Dental Recovery Plan would be published “shortly.”
The second part of his reply saw the debut of O’Briens new approach. From April 1st, he wrote, responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry had been delegated to ICB’s. Not only that, but thanks to a “comprehensive assessment process” by NHS England, it had been ensured that “ICB’s were ready to take on commissioning responsibility.”
Rachael Maskell’s second question was about another essential area of any dental recovery. She asked the Secretary of State: “whether he is taking steps to strengthen the data that is available for the purposes of understanding demand for and supply of NHS dental services in England.”
Once more the minister pointed out that ICB’s were now handling commissioning. It was their responsibility to have processes in place to involve patient groups and undertake needs assessments. Once again these issues were not Mr O’Brien’s responsibility, but rested with the ICB’s.
If this is correct, one of Mr O’Briens staff should have a word with NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB). Two days after the MP’s ‘not my problem’ answers, Stoke on Trent Live ran a story about a local practice that had written to some patients to tell them that they could not be seen under the NHS any more. The main piece explained the reasons that had led to the practice making its difficult decision, along with local reaction. As is usual the story ended with a comment from the authorities: “NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) has been in charge of NHS dentistry since April. It says dentistry contracts are agreed nationally.”
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