Last week my column was all about pharmacists and this week it’s all about dentists.
I’m sure many of you were heartened by the news that the government has launched a new initiative to improve access to NHS dentists. This is an issue for us locally, as it is around the rest of the UK. Sadly, this is a public service that was badly hit by the pandemic and has not yet fully recovered, despite the efforts of our many excellent dentists.
The £200 million funding package announced last week will add an extra 2.5 million NHS dental appointments and will financially incentivise dentists to take on new patients, including those who haven’t seen a dentist for two years or more.
A marketing campaign will be a call to action to encourage those who haven’t been to a dentist for a while to book an appointment and establish good teeth brushing habits from the moment a child’s first teeth arrive. Patients will also be able to view real time information about available local dentist appointments in their area using the NHS app and website.
In addition, a comprehensive programme for young children will establish good teeth brushing from the start. The ‘Smile for Life’ programme will offer essential advice on dental health to new parents and parents-to-be so that tooth brushing is a normal part of the child’s day by the time they start school.
Mobile dental teams will also be sent to areas with particularly acute dental shortages to apply preventative fluoride paste to more than 165,000 reception age children’s teeth. This is an immediate way to strengthen young teeth and prevent tooth decay, and hopefully the knock on effect will be a generation with healthy, strong teeth.
The ambition is for everyone who needs an NHS dental appointment to be able to access one at a time and place that is convenient. This package is a significant step.
And finally, I’ve written before in this column about making the case for a banking hub in Whitehill and Bordon. This week I made a submission to the Financial Conduct Authority consultation on improving access to cash in communities, particularly those where either there are no physical bank branches or just one remaining. You can read my response on my website. I will continue to make the case for Whitehill and Bordon, and elsewhere where there is no longer a bank branch.
Dentist update - February 2024
Separately, NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight has launched a new mobile dental service for the most vulnerable people in our communities. The Dentaid unit will be parked outside community venues across Hampshire offering an appointment-only service to those most in need. To book an appointment call 023 8001 4450. See the flyer below for more information.
