Written question WQ82584
- Asked by
- James EvansConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
What is the Welsh Government doing to support Powys Teaching Health Board to address the declining provision of NHS dentists in Brecon and Radnorshire?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
Health boards have the budget and responsibility for the provision of dental services to meet local needs and the wider oral health agenda. This gives them the ability to fund and develop services to reflect local requirements and priorities.
Health Education and Improvement Wales are considering 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. As part of our dental reform programme we will be addressing workforce issues including a broad gap analysis of the dental workforce needs against the seven themes in the NHS workforce strategy. This will then allow for strategic framing of where action and work is needed. Dental nurse training, and hygiene and therapy training, will all be factored in along with career pathways and training for dentists. This will allow us to develop a dental workforce strategy that goes beyond dental reform and ensure the workforce is fit for the future.
Skill-mix can play a significant role in the provision of NHS dental care and this is a key component of our reform programme. Expanding the number of dental care professionals who can deliver care and preventive interventions directly to patients is a core part of change. This need has been understood for some time however the existing dental contract stifles the use of skill mix in dentistry. The current system change and reform will align dentistry with the primary care model and allow expansion in the use of the whole team in care delivery; improving access and prevention.
The Welsh Government, working with Bangor University, have also established an all-Wales Faculty of Dental Care Professionals, which is working with education colleges and training providers to set clear educational frameworks and monitor the quality of training. It will develop research capability, leadership and enhance the skills of dental care professionals to help fulfil their potential.