A number of organisations have agreed an action plan that aims to improve access to NHS dental services in Cornwall. This follows a Cornish summit on the subject in July.
After the event, the panel met to discuss the issues raised and agree the actions that would need to happen, and who was best placed to take them forward. Four overarching priorities were identified:
- improving children’s oral health and reducing inequalities;
- improving public understanding of dental access;
- strengthening the dental workforce; and
- seeking greater local flexibility while escalating national barriers to Government.
Summit participants agreed to:
- Prioritise children’s oral health and prevention.
- Develop a coordinated communications strategy.
- Advocate collectively for workforce reform and increased training capacity.
- Establish a Cornwall dental pilot working group.
- Develop a collective approach to procurement, commissioning and workforce barriers.
“We now have all of the organisations involved agreed to move forward with the actions, and have their commitment to make sure they happen,” said Thalia Marrington, Cornwall Council cabinet lead for community safety and public health. “We will meet again in six months’ time to hold us all accountable in driving this forward.”
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly director for public health, Eunan O’Neill, said: “We have heard some very worrying stories about people in Cornwall who have felt like their only option is to pull their own teeth out. It’s very alarming and we need people to understand that there is access to NHS dental services in an emergency.
“Our public health team will also be ramping up our offer to children and young people by making sure as many families as possible know how best to look after their dental health.”
Dr Chris Reid, chief medical officer for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, added: “While we know NHS dentistry faces significant challenges nationally, we are determined to do everything we can locally to improve access. As the commissioner of local NHS dental services, we are committed to improving dental services and have invested in providing additional urgent dental care appointments, a mobile dental unit, recruiting more dentists and supporting practices to take on NHS dental contracts.
“By working together across the NHS, local government and dental providers, we want to help more people get timely dental care and improve oral health for our communities.”
