Health watchdog calls for ‘fundamental’ dental reforms

Funding protection, publicity campaigns and regular national updates are just some of the dental reform recommendations made by a health watchdog.

Healthwatch UK has revealed a number of suggestions to help make dental appointments more accessible as it says ‘communities across England have made it clear that NHS dentistry needs to be fixed’.

In a release, the organisation said: ‘The new Labour government has proposed a dentistry rescue plan, which has the potential to improve access to NHS dental appointments in the short term.

‘But in the long term, we believe more fundamental reforms are needed.’

Its recommendations include:

• Fundamental reform of NHS dentistry. This will give the public a right to register with a local NHS dentist, in the same way as they can with a GP
• Greater protection of ring-fenced NHS dental budgets that are held by integrated care boards (ICB)
• Involvement by ICBs of local Healthwatch and communities in shaping local NHS dental services and informing roll-out of new initiatives
• Publicity campaigns targeted at people most in need on how they can access the 700,000 extra NHS appointments being offered under the dentistry rescue plan
• Regular national updates published on the impact of the dental rescue plan
• Greater promotion of NHS dental charge exemptions and the NHS Low Income Scheme. This is to ensure people aren’t put off seeking help because of cost
• Full compliance by practices with their contractual duty to update their NHS availability on the NHS website
• More joined-up schemes between dental practices, GP surgeries, schools, and other services. This will deliver prevention and link oral health to other issues, such as smoking cessation.

NHS performance

This comes as health secretary Wes Streeting announced that an independent investigation will be taking place into the performance of the NHS.

Led by Lord Ara Darzi, an NHS expert, the report will ‘tell the hard truths’ about the health service.

Using the findings of the investigation, the government will draw up the required plans to rebuild the NHS. Streeting also acknowledged that fixing the health service will take time and needs ‘fundamental reform’.

Since Labour’s win last week, Streeting met with the BDA to begin negotiations on the NHS dental contract. They also discussed Labour’s manifesto pledge to create an additional 700,000 emergency dental appointments each year.

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