Cornwall to get share of £5m to help tackle NHS dentist backlogs
Local MPs say they will make sure the Duchy gets its fair share of the government cash
Last updated 25th Jan 2022
Cornwall is going to get a share of almost five million pounds to help tackle the NHS dentist backlog.
The Government has announced £50million of additional funding across the country for a rapid programme to tackle some of the dentistry issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The South West will get £4,726,000 but it isn't yet known how much of that will go to Cornwall.
Under the scheme extra appointments will be offered including outside of normal hours to treat people in the early morning, evening, and at weekends.
Funding will secure up to 350,000 additional dental appointments allowing people suffering from oral pain, disease, and infection to get the care they need, as services drive back to pre-pandemic levels.
Children, people with learning disabilities, autism, or severe mental health problems, will be prioritised as part of a dentistry treatment push over the coming months, with the one-off funding available until the end of the financial year.
Locally, NHS teams will use the funds to secure increase care capacity amongst local dentists already operating to help patients suffering from oral ill-health.
Dentists involved in the scheme will be paid more than a third on top of their normal sessional fee for delivering this care outside of core hours, such as early morning and weekend work.
It comes as figures reveal the number of NHS dentists in Cornwall has dropped by 25 in the space of a year.
The funding has been welcomed by Cornish MPs but they say more still needs to be done.
Commenting, St Austell and Newquay’s Member of Parliament Steve Double said: “It is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated already existing issues with NHS dentistry in Cornwall, in particular waiting times, and this funding from the Government is very helpful in moving to resolve this.”
“The South West will be getting nearly £5million of funding for this purpose and I will be working with my Cornish MP colleagues and NHS Kernow to ensure Cornwall gets its fair share of this allocation.”
“However there are root issues to the lack of NHS dentist provision in Cornwall that predate the pandemic. What we need is fundamental reform of the national Dentist Contract, which at present does not incentivise NHS dentists to see patients. I am pleased to see the Government is now working on contract reform to tackle these long term issues and I hope to see more detail on this soon.”
Truro and Falmouth’s Member of Parliament Cherilyn Mackrory said: “The lack of NHS dentistry provision continues to be one of the top issues regularly highlighted to me by residents of Truro and Falmouth, and I am pleased to see this additional funding announced by the Government to help our NHS dentists address the backlog that has arisen during the pandemic.”
“I will be working with our local NHS organisations to ensure Cornwall gets its fair share of the nearly £5million which has been allocated for the South West.”
“Away from the pandemic NHS dentist provision has historically been a concern in Cornwall. I have recently opened a survey around NHS dentist services and waiting times in Truro and Falmouth, to get evidence to present to the NHS and Government colleagues and argue for the changes we need."