Health Minister Stephen Kinnock has announced that more than 35,000 urgent NHS dental appointments will be made available to patients across the South West, as part of a wider effort to address growing dental access issues. A total of 700,018 additional appointments will be created across England, with 24,269 in Devon and 10,910 in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
These appointments, set to be available from April, are focused on “dental deserts” – areas where patients have struggled to access NHS dental services. Kinnock said, “We promised we would end the misery faced by hundreds of thousands of people unable to get urgent dental care. Today we’re starting to deliver on that commitment.”
The new appointments will cater to patients requiring urgent care, such as those suffering from infections or needing repairs to dental bridges. Patients can access these appointments by contacting their regular dental practice or calling NHS 111 if they do not have a dentist or need assistance outside of normal hours.
Calls for Reform and Urgent Action
While the announcement was welcomed by some, local politicians are calling for broader reforms to address the ongoing dental crisis. Ben Maguire, Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, expressed support for the additional appointments but emphasized the need for “radical reform” to resolve the underlying issues.
He pointed out that one in five dentists had left Cornwall since 2019, leading to severe shortages. “Families are being forced to pull out their own teeth or send children to A&E with life-threatening infections,” he said. Maguire urged the government to address the NHS dental contract, increase recruitment efforts, and consider mobile emergency dental units for rural areas.
A Step Forward, But More to Be Done
Luke Pollard, Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, also welcomed the announcement, calling it an “important step forward.” However, he acknowledged that much more was needed. He noted the recent opening of a new dental clinic in Plymouth City Centre, a project he had been advocating for with local officials. “I will keep campaigning until everyone in our city has access to NHS dentistry,” he said.
Despite the new appointments, many MPs and local leaders stress that comprehensive reforms and long-term solutions are essential to address the ongoing dental care crisis.
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