Written question WQ84270

Health boards have the budget and responsibility for the provision of NHS dental services and Welsh Government is actively working with them to address short term difficulties and deliver longer term improvement.

I acknowledge there are areas where access is difficult and want to reach a position where everyone in Wales who wants access to NHS dental care can get it.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is planning a commissioning exercise, either for additional activity at an existing practice or to establish a new two-surgery practice in the Dwyfor Meirionnydd area, for the equivalent of around 12,000 patients. This will be going live in the new financial year with a view to establish services as quickly as possible.

The opening of the North Wales Dental Academy in Bangor later this year will also increase access to services for the Dwyfor Merionnydd area, although there will be a requirement to travel for some people. This will include additional urgent and non-urgent access sessions, as well as routine care.

There is no doubt the pandemic has impacted on the improvements being made on increasing access to NHS dental services. Dentistry is one of the most complex areas of primary care in terms of the re-instatement of services. To boost dental capacity for the remainder of the year, I have announced additional in-year funding of up to £3m for health boards. From 2022-23, additional recurrent funding of £2m is being made available to improve access to NHS dentistry across Wales.