Short-term plan to help stabilise Norfolk dental industry is being implemented

A short-term dental plan to help stabilise services across Norfolk is being implemented.

The Norfolk & Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) approved the scheme in a bid to improve access for patients struggling in the county’s dental desert.

John Evans, a 73-year-old pensioner from Stowbridge who has been battling a catalogue of oral issues in recent months, learned of the proposals after contacting South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy.

Mr Jermy’s team subsequently contacted the ICB, which informed them of its solution for patients such as Mr Evans who are struggling to access NHS treatment.

In a response to Mr Jermy’s team seen by the Lynn News, an ICB spokesperson said: “Following extensive engagement with local dentists, we have approved and are implementing a short-term dental plan to help to stabilise services in Norfolk and Waveney and to improve access to dental services.

“This was followed by a long-term plan which sets out our commissioning approach and intentions for the next five years, how we plan to build resilience into our NHS dental services and improve general dental access, alongside the development of our local workforce plan.”

It added: “As a local health and care system, we are investing around £1m to improve access to urgent dental treatment.

“To do this, we are working with local dental professionals and have agreed additional funding to ensure more urgent dental appointments are available through an Urgent Treatment Service.

“Urgent appointments are being provided by 23 dental providers across 27 locations in Norfolk and Waveney. The service has been running since October 2023 and is available for referral by NHS111 following clinical assessment of the individual’s need for an urgent appointment only.”

NHS dental practices participating in the scheme to provide urgent dental treatment have been asked to maintain a short notice cancellation list, and may contact patients if capacity becomes available within their appointment books.

If somebody’s dental issues are not routine, such as toothache, facial pain, swelling, bleeding or broken teeth where the root may be exposed, they are still being urged to phone 111 to seek require urgent treatment.

Staff will then triage and signpost patients to a dental service which has capacity, depending on clinical need.

Mr Evans previously claimed his inability to secure NHS treatment had handed him a “death sentence”.

Some of his teeth have fallen out while eating solid food - meaning he has to resort to living on a diet of soup and frozen mashed potatoes.

However, after receiving this response from Mr Jermy, he said he feels he has “something to work on”.

A damning report in early 2023 found Norfolk’s five-year-olds have the worst rates of tooth decay in the East of England – with the Lynn and West Norfolk area among the worst affected in the country.

Mr Jermy told the Lynn News: "For many people in my constituency getting a appointment with a dentist is near impossible.

“In Norfolk there are only 36 dentists per 100,000 people, compared with the national average of 53. The last Conservative government left office with a record thirteen million patients unable to see an NHS dentist.

“Only this week I raised the issue in parliament and again with the Minister directly, as well as previously with the Health Secretary who fully understands the scale of the problem.

"Labour will deliver an additional 700,000 dental appointments, alongside extra 100,000 urgent dental appointments for children in a bid to clear backlogs in England."

The ICB has been asked for an update on how the short-term plan is proceeding.