A mobile dental bus – that will allow Islanders without access to dental services to get their teeth checked out – is to come to the Island in March, it has been announced. As the dental crisis continues here on the Island, which has seen numerous NHS dental practices go private in the last 2 months, the introduction of the new dental bus will help to offer those without access to a dentist, for whatever reason, the chance to get their teeth checked out in the week commencing 11th March. In terms of location, it is planned for the Iveco lorry to park outside local community and leisure centres and public buildings across the Island. The mobile dental service will provide dental check-ups, oral cancer screening and emergency treatment including fillings and extractions, plus preventative care for children, dentures, emergency care and oral health advice, however, appointments are required. It is hoped that the service will return at regular intervals, with the provision to initially last for 18 months. The mobile dental service is part of a wider initiative to improve NHS dental capacity on the Isle of Wight. This includes:
- Temporary payments to Island NHS dental practices to increase treatments.
- Recommissioning of contracts for NHS dentists on the island to increase NHS capacity.
The NHS Dental Recovery Plan includes the following measures:
- Dental practitioners will receive increased payment for every patient treated, plus additional payment for treating a new patient.
- Higher payments for treating those requiring complex dental work.
- Mobile dental teams will be visiting schools.
On the news, MP Bob Seely has said:
“I want to ensure that the Island receives its fair share of the services included in the new NHS plan. This is all part of getting a better deal for the Island.”
CEO of Dentaid the Dental Charity, Andy Evans, said:
“As a charity, we are focussed on giving the most vulnerable people in our communities the best possible chance of seeing a dentist. “For many years we have been providing mobile dental services for people experiencing homelessness, head and neck cancer patients, looked after children and survivors of abuse. “This pioneering partnership with NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight will enable us to significantly upscale our work.”
Director of Pharmacy, Optometry and Dentistry at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Simon Cooper, said:
“We are really pleased to be funding this project and partnering with Dentaid The Dental Charity on this innovative approach to provide dentistry for those who need it most. Since we took on the responsibility for dentistry last year, we have been looking at ways we can ensure better access to NHS dental care for everyone living in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. “By targeting dental care at those living in more deprived communities, we will reach those with the highest risk of poor dental quality. We can then focus further investment on other patients who are currently unable to access an NHS dentist.”
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But surely the government is duty bound to provide services for all. That’s what government does, so why should Bob need to ‘ensure the Island receives its fair share of the services…’. Surely he’s not implying central government would favour one set of people over another, perhaps more affluent part of the country? Surely not! these two statements upset me…
Temporary? Discuss.
Recommissioning of contracts? All dentists who do work for the NHS are self employed and underpaid.
So, JUST VOTE TO FUND THE NHS PROPERLY BOB.
You seem a little naive there Karen. Bob is in this for himself and his Tory mates. The needs of islanders are secondary.
You are duty bound to look after yourself instead of relying on the state. Can’t you stand on your own two feet and pay for services you need instead of whinging that the government must help you.
The government, any government, has a Statutory Duty of Care Edward. It’s a legal Statute. And in fact, my dental healthcare is private. I pay through the teeth for it because I’m privileged enough to do so having stood on my own two feet, luckily, all my life. And more often than not it is only luck that separates those who can afford it and those who cannot. Survival of the fittest attitudes went out with the Victorians, which is why the NHS was born. It’s now on its knees because people like you buy into the current government’s narrative that anyone who may need help is a whinger for state help. It’s not a bestowed benefit, it’s a right that we’ve contributed to for the benefit of all, regardless of circumstance.
We do stand on our own two feet unless we don’t have feet you absolutely tit and yes I payed for mine private but why shouldn’t children be seen or have a nhs dentist yes they should they are suffering as the private dentist don’t do anything won’t even send a referral of thank you even after you have payed them so why should this be allowed ayyyy
Yeh and people would if they could but why should children not be seen by a NHS dentist you pay a private one they don’t do anything for them you then need a referral they won’t even do that and it’s just a letter so why should the little ones or people that are struggling we don’t all have privileges family’s to hand us down stuff so go get a life
Why don’t we have more mobile units?. Must be cheaper than having a building and costs associated. Also nothing here for information on how to make appts or maybe I missed that?.
The dentists themselves buy, own and maintain the buildings. NHS England simply pay them for services. That pay is shockingly bad since 2010 and the contracts awarded are pitifully bad. The fact that they are now relying on a CHARITY that usually serves the homeless, migrants etc to provide temporary emergency healthcare in the run up to a general election tells you what you need to know. It couldn’t be a long term solution as that charity will very very soon have spent their current contingency pot of money which this year is roughly half a million pounds.
Form an orderly queue. They sell burgers, chips, and ice creams too. Great idea!
Dental CHARITY!
you bob seeley really are an asshole,your piss poor,so called government is responsible for the dismantling of dentistry,and yet you claim to be responsible for getting this CHARITY dentist here,you really are an utter disgrace,when the workhouses come into force,will you welcome that too?
utter w⚓️
Will only last until the general election, it’s a gimmick from the lying tories, and the blue rinse brigade will believe it
Pop up Bob pipes up with a big, private dental smile. Just look what he’s doing for us all. Lord praise him…..or something.
What next!
Make all Dentists take on NHS Patients or close them down.
“however, appointments are required”. IE – can you provide any information please as to how appointments can be made/who to contact etc, as this would be very helpful. Thank you.
you need to phone this number Dentaid The Dental Charity on 023 8001 4450 and be entitled to free Dental treatment as well. Or Appointments will be by referral, via community groups, GP practices, foodbanks, charity partners and 111
“you need to .. be entitled to free Dental treatment as well”
so the statement, the article abobe, that
“the new dental bus will help to offer those without access to a dentist, for whatever reason, the chance to get their teeth checked”
is another big fat lie from the CONservatives!
Thank you.
If all this bus does is provide the same emergency service that is offered by the one remaining emergency NHS dentist on the island and is hardly ever here then it is worse than useless.
Whilst I accept that spotting the signs of mouth cancer is useful, a check-up that tells me that I need treatment that I cannot get is just adding insult to injury.
We need something that provides the full range of NHS treatment otherwise what is the point?
That’ll be a different government then, one whose remit was not to dismantle the NHS and cream off the top of new contracts.
Correct, it was a different government that caused NHS dentist to go private.
In 2006, Blair, under the Labour Government introduced a new dental contract, and the result – like the new contracts for GPs and hospital consultants – was a disaster.
Under the old system, dentists were paid for the work that they did. Under the new system they got paid a minimal set rate for a fixed number of procedures causing 90% of the NHS dentists to go fully private.
I totally agree the present government have done little to change this apart from throwing inordinate amounts of money into the black hole that is NHS finances.
But it is the Tories who failed to keep pace with inflation. Inflation has led to dentists abandoning NHS work because they are not paid enough to cover the costs.
Are you sure about that?
The NHS budget has gone up by £33.9 billion by 2023-24. That’s the biggest cash boost in its history.
£6.2 billion more this year alone.
It is obvious to all the NHS has and is continuing to fail despite staggering amounts of money being ploughed into it.
All I can see Labour (or whoever the next government are) just throwing more money at it and making the same empty promises.
The NHS is a total shitshow. It is run by hopelessly inept managers and medics who think that their every utterance is correct and should not be challenged. The whole NHS needs to be binned.
Its way not it’s way
Will I or my dentist receive free money for being private and thereby relieving stress on the NHS dental service? Of course not!
Just more taxpayers money being spent on those who do not contribute.
I am sick to death of Benefits and low income (let’s be honest, usually Benefits) being the only eligibility required to be classed as ‘vulnerable’ and therefore have £££s thrown at you.
Sometimes poor lifestyle choices reap poor lifestyle conditions.
Discuss? OK, I think you have one of your concerns back to front
“ Surely he’s not implying central government would favour one set of people over another, perhaps more affluent part of the country”?
The government do favour one set of people over another. 800,000 illegal immigrants all get to see the dentist before UK residents……
And there it is, we have become the new 3rd world country where services are bussed in. Look at what is happening to dentists, this is the future of the NHS under the Tories. Can you survive if all doctors go private? It is going to happen, just a question of when. And anyone who has health insurance for their dogs will know, health insurance is not the answer. They will do their best to not pay out.
How about being able to claim the NHS dental treatment money back when we have had to use a Private Dentist through no fault of our own. A single small filling £225 at a private dentist.
Why they need to charge that amount beats me.
They have a constant stream of people in and out and must be making thousands of pounds out of the fact that there are no NHS dentist.
Really very corrupt.