Following the publication of a report by Healthwatch England this week, Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has spoken in parliament about the issues Islanders face with trying to access NHS dentistry services.
In a Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday (25th May) Mr Seely highlighted to Dentistry Minister, Jo Churchill, the struggles that some Islanders have been facing with trying to access an NHS dentist. He said:
“Some Islanders who are getting a new dentist are now having to go to the mainland for treatment.
Article continues below this advertisement “That is incredibly inconvenient, especially given that, with the most expensive ferries in the world, some kids on the Island have never seen a dentist in their life.”
Bob said the problems seemed to be exacerbated in coastal, rural and isolated areas such as the Isle of Wight with the nearest dental school to the Isle of Wight (in Portsmouth) not producing enough dentists. He explained to the Minister there was a further problem on the Island with dentists leaving the Island or retiring.
Recognising there was no easy fix, Mr Seely suggested some potentially ‘quick wins’ that could help ease the problem. His suggestions included the initiation of a dental training scheme on the Island, the need to simplify the process for qualifying as a training practice, and a boost to the funding for the salary of interns.
He also stressed that changes to contracts to incentivise dentists to remain in the NHS was important as was the separation of laboratory fees from dental fees to help laboratories survive.
Speaking after the debate, Mr Seely said:
“There is no easy solution to the problem, I understand that, but I want to work with the Government to see what can be done to ease problems here on the Island.
“I know that the Minister is receptive to new ideas and I will continue to engage in further conversations with her to see what can practically be done.”
Bob, better late than never
Sounds all good, but we are still waiting for any of his things he has supposedly championed to come to fruition.
My dentist retired last year and I’m still waiting on the practice to tell me who is going to be my NHS dentist and get an appointment.
Bandwagon Bob is back. Well thanks to tory cuts there will never be any change, cloud cuckoo land again Bob. Even if you get an emergency 111 appointment with a dentist expect to pay money for a little sit down, try and talk to someone who can’t speak english and then to poke your teeth with metal spike, not listen to you, send you out the door with a prescription for broad spectrum anti-biotics WITHOUT even and x ray, all within 15 seconds. This happened to me only last week. Oh yeah the receptionist was damn rude too. I won’t name the dentist, but they are in Shanklin. Maybe an investigation of these 111 dentists is needed.
Well my NHS dentist wouldn’t do a check up !!!!!
But when I mentioned new crowns and bridge oh wow when would I like to attend …. money really does talk …..
Obviously would have recommended the most expensive… so I wait till ??????
Not going to be ripped off ….
That is incredibly inconvenient, especially given that, with the most expensive ferries in the world, some kids on the Island have never seen a dentist in their life.”
This quote by Bob above give him opportunity to sort out the greedy ferry companies.
Bet he doesn’t do diddly squat as usual!
Surely, NHS dentists have always “seen” children under the age of 16 for free?
NHS dentistry was wrecked by Blair’s Labour government in 2006.
The contract introduced in 2006 was said by the British Dental Association in 2016 to be not fit for purpose, rewarding dentists for meeting government targets for treatment and repair, but not for improving patients’ oral health.
At least Seely and the Tories are trying to change things. Of course, “Captain Hindsight” Starmer is on the case…
Like most of the problems here, it’s all to do with the isolation, so maybe ask the government to look at a fixed link?
My great nhs dentist is leaving as he cannot do the commute anymore