Tom Hayes, the Labour MP for Bournemouth East, has called for urgent reforms to the NHS dental system, which he describes as being in a “crisis.” In a recent meeting with Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association (BDA), Hayes discussed potential solutions to address the growing challenges facing NHS dental care.
The conversation primarily centered around the need to overhaul the NHS dental contract and enhance patient access to services. The BDA emphasized ongoing staffing shortages, which are exacerbated by the low returns under the current Units of Dental Activity (UDA) system.
However, Dorset has recently made strides by increasing its UDA value to £35, aligning with the BDA’s national target. Despite these improvements, Mr. Hayes highlighted the ongoing frustrations of local residents who are unable to secure appointments with NHS dentists, leaving them with the painful choice of either enduring dental pain or paying for private care.
“When you can’t see an NHS dentist, the only options are to live in pain or find money for a private dentist,” Hayes said. “No wonder people are frustrated. I met with the British Dental Association as part of my effort to end Dorset’s dental desert. Bringing thousands of urgent dental appointments to Dorset is a great start, but I want the long-term fixes.”
The Government has allocated 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments, with 13,569 provided in Dorset alone. Last month, Mr. Hayes also met with Rob Whiteman, acting chair of the Integrated Care Board, and Patricia Miller OBE, the board’s chief executive, to discuss expanding access to dental care in the region.
In a parliamentary debate on NHS dentistry held in November 2024, Mr. Hayes highlighted the critical need for contract reform and shared the poignant story of a constituent who had an early cancer diagnosis, thanks to a routine dental check-up.
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