Written question WQ82412
- Asked by
- Darren MillarConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 10 days
Question
What action is the Welsh Government taking to increase the number of NHS dentists in Conwy and Denbighshire to ensure that all residents are able to register with an NHS dentist?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
Welsh Government are working with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on the establishment of a new North Wales Dental Academy in Bangor which will also incorporate a hub and spoke model to service Caernarfon and Colwyn Bay.
This is an opportunity for the Health Board to significantly increase dental provision and improve access to NHS dental services in North Wales, aligned to Welsh Government dental reform principles.
The Academy will provide training for dentists from foundation year, through core training and on into speciality, whilst providing existing North Wales dentists with opportunities to upskill without having to leave the area.
Health Education and Improvement Wales are also looking at the commissioning of training numbers, training and education packages for health care professionals to help develop the workforce, and considering whether there are more effective workforce models to deliver services which could improve dentists’ workloads and make practices more sustainable.