Concerns the Isle of Wight has been overlooked, amid the dental crisis, have been raised with the Health Secretary.
Work is currently being undertaken to look at the depth of the Island’s ‘biggest health inequality’ which will hopefully fix problems facing Islanders.
Since it was announced in September, however, the Isle of Wight Council has said it has had a lack of response from NHS England to address those concerns.
Raising the issue at Monday’s health and social care scrutiny committee, Councillor John Nicholson said they were worried at how long a response was taking and the excuses given were not acceptable. Cllr Nicholson said the committee was ‘particularly perturbed’ that mainland areas had been given assistance but the Island was being overlocked.
Joanna Smith, Healthwatch Isle of Wight manager, said the lack of treatment on the Island was unacceptable in this day and age and that lives were being ruined by the crisis.
Councillor Michael Lilley said he had spoken to a private dentist recently who said trade was booming on the Island as people were paying for the treatment they could not get.
The question was raised as to whether the NHS could pay for private treatment, as they have done in other areas where it cannot cope.
The committee agreed to urgently write to the health secretary, Sajid Javid, on the ‘serious lack of effective response’, in collaboration with council leader, Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox, and Island MP Bob Seely.
In the future, following changes in legislation through the Health and Care Bill, there will be a more localised approach to tackling dentistry problems.
Speaking to address the concerns, Alison Smith, managing director of the NHS Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said there will be a change in contracting with dentistry arrangements made regionally thorough the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System, not NHS England.
Ms Smith said it will be an opportunity for more local and bespoke arrangements but it won’t change the workforce challenges the Island is facing.
NHS South East is expected to release the oral health profile on the Island by the end of the year.
Wouldn’t be an issue, if the council didn’t keep approving housing developments and accepting more and more benefit claimants to the island.
As usual, their short sighted policies are coming home to roost – they were told -no more houses, as the islands Dr’s, dentists etc couldn’t cope – but no, they did not listen, thought they knew better – nothing like reality to slap the face of the arrogant planning committee and politicians.
name and shame all members of the planning committees and councillors that support housing development on the island and support the importation of more benefit claimants, which includes immigration and asylum
It was all looking good until the council leaders name and Seely was mentioned. Stop the big developments then, and we might, just might get some things sorted out. But not with this load of buffoons in charge.
If we were a marginal seat I imagine we would have more NHS dentists.
Or am I being cynical.
I do have an NHS Dentist !!!!!
Alas although I need work he will only do it privately…..
No wonder you can’t get NHS appointments…
Price difference astronomical !!!!!
All of England will levelled up, but some parts will be more level than others !
if you have a Geordie accent you’re in.
Or if you’re Scottish, the English tax payers pay more and get less.