Dental bus considered for Hampshire
Health leaders in Hampshire are considering the use of a 'dental bus' across the county to increase access to an NHS dentist
Plans are at an early stage but a similar scheme provided services across Hampshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire in 2012. That mobile service began its journey in Portsmouth and the city has again been identified as a priority area.
The initiative is mentioned in an update report due to be discussed by Portsmouth’s health scrutiny committee next week.
‘We are currently developing and mobilising more innovative and flexible commissioning solutions to improve access, including testing of the dental bus, and oral health strategy development,’ the report by Health and Care Portsmouth says.
Access to dentistry is the responsibility of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board’s pharmacy, optometry and dentistry department.
It has identified the issue, which is particularly acute in the Portsmouth, Isle of Wight, Havant and Gosport areas, as a ‘priority initiative’ aimed at making access more equal across the county.
A spokesman said they had no extra information about plans for the dental bus.
Portsmouth has seen a sharp decline in the number of NHS dentists operating in the city and has fallen below the national average.