Caroline Voaden: Government's response to dentistry crisis is rotten

We’ve heard a great deal since the election last year about the failings of the previous government, the things that were ignored, or worse, actively run down, over a long and chaotic 14 years.

If we go back to a time before that, way back in the political Stone Age, we can find some surprising harbingers of trouble that really should have been given more attention.

On July 2nd, 2008, a report was delivered by the House of Commons Health Select Committee, warning there could be “trouble ahead” for recruitment and retention in NHS dentistry.

I doubt the authors of this report could have known just how prescient their warning would prove to be. Today, 90 per cent of dentists across the UK are not taking on new NHS adult patients, and tooth decay is the biggest primary cause of NHS hospital admissions for children aged between 5 and 17.

In Devon, the situation is particularly severe. We live in arguably the biggest dental desert in the country. There are no practices in South Devon accepting NHS patients, and, according to ONS statistics from last month, 98.6 per cent of people in the South West who tried to make an NHS dental appointment in the last 28 days were unsuccessful.

On the final parliamentary day before Easter Recess, I spoke about the terrible state of NHS dentistry. I spoke about those who’ve been on a waiting list for years, those who are in pain but can’t access treatment, and those who simply cannot afford the prices quoted by private practitioners.

I spoke of my frustration, too, because there’s very little reassurance I can give that the situation will improve. Fixing dentistry just doesn’t seem to be a priority for the Labour government.

Nine months after the election, we’re still waiting for meaningful progress to be made on this issue, despite Labour’s manifesto promise to tackle the immediate crisis.

I’m sure if you put this to Labour, they’d dispute it by pointing to the 700,000 new dental appointments they are rolling out from this month. But here’s the problem: there aren’t enough dentists to deliver these appointments.

NHS Devon is being asked to provide 24,269 more urgent care appointments than they did last year – a 42 per cent increase. While I’m sure many would agree these appointments are much needed, delivering them will be a huge challenge.

Worse still, the situation is set to become even more severe thanks to Labour’s welfare cuts. Recent changes to the benefit system are estimated to leave half a million people without access to free dental care.

Over 20,000 people in South Devon are aged 70 and over. Many rely solely on the state pension and are unable to increase their income. Having spent more on heating after losing the winter fuel payment, they simply cannot afford private dentistry.

So, what’s the solution to this crisis? Let’s look at what was suggested back in 2008: “We recommend that the Department consider further how to provide incentives for dentists to offer preventative care and treatment.”

This chimes with something I mentioned earlier this month. Encouraging dentists back into the NHS is not just about offering more money. Private dentists can give more dedicated attention to patients, deal with less red tape, and might experience a better work-life balance.

We need to incentivise dentists to return to the NHS. We also need to boost the flexibility of dental contracts and allow Integrated Care Boards to fund projects outside of their usual obligations.

I’ve written to the Minister of Care about adopting these measures; in both cases, I’m yet to receive a response.

This, for me, sums up the response of Government. Progress has been glacial, but this crisis, much like tooth decay, cannot be allowed to fester. It will only get worse and worse. Urgent action is needed.