Really welcome announcement today about NHS dentistry, something Andy Carter MP has been campaigning for over the last two years. A £200 million investment into helping dentistry recover after the pandemic.
The Government’s plan will help deliver 2.5 million more appointments per year, through a range of immediate and long term initiatives.
Broken down into Prevention, Recovery and Longer Term Reform.
Here’s a summary
1. Paying dentists a bonus of up to £50 for each new patient they take on who haven’t see a dentist for 2 years.
2. Incentivising dentists to work in rural or underserved areas with £20,000 golden handshakes.
3. Rolling out dental vans to the most in need areas to carry out emergency and routine work.
4. Launching the ‘Smile for Life’ programme to assist new parents on prevention and how to reduce dental decay in children.
5. Increasing the number of dentistry training places by 40% by 2031/32 in the NHS LTP.
6. Expanding the water fluoridation programme subject to consultation.
