Yesterday evening, I held an adjournment debate on NHS Dentistry in Lincolnshire. Difficulties in accessing NHS dental services is common in my constituency of Sleaford and North Hykeham, and across our rural county.
During my speech I raised constituents' experiences of lengthy waiting times, problems accessing dental healthcare for service families, and how the backlog caused by the pandemic has put further strain on already stretched services. I also highlighted the way that current target-based dental contracts in the form of UDA's (Units of Dental Activity) create further problems and disincentivise additional work.
I am glad that the Minister has agreed that the NHS dental contract needs to be renewed to tackle these problems, and that the Government is looking at what they can do to support provision in rural and coastal areas. The Minister has also agreed to meet with me to discuss the further impacts on military personnel in particular.
I am pleased that the Minister has also agreed to look at my suggestion of the establishment of an East Midlands Dental School in Lincolnshire which would drastically improve access to routine and specialist care locally. Of course this would not have an immediate impact but I believe that in the longer term this would boost training and recruitment of dentists in Lincolnshire and the wider East Midlands region, while improving the education and skills offer in the county in conjunction with the new Lincoln Medical School.
