Written question WQ86160
- Asked by
- Janet Finch-SaundersConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
Will the Minister give an update on the Welsh Government's progress in dealing with the backlog of vulnerable and older patients requiring dental appointments?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
We are making steady progress with the recovery of dental services, but dentistry is one of the most complex areas of primary care in terms of the reinstatement of services. Dental practices are now providing a full range of care and treatment for patients, including aerosol generating procedures such as fillings. However, as Covid-19 is still in circulation some public health measures continues to mean fewer patients can be ‘seen’ in a clinical session.
Dentists are now recalling patients who are overdue their routine NHS dental examination, however, the return of services will continue to be gradual and will depend on capacity within individual practices.
Dentists will continue to see people based on clinical need. Health Boards have an obligation to ensure anyone in pain or with urgent need can see a dentist.
From 2022/23 additional recurrent funding of £2m is being made available to improve access to NHS dentistry across Wales. Health Boards will be able to invest this funding in NHS dental services to address local needs and issues.
Practices joining the contract reform programme are required to see a given number of new NHS patients (based on the size of their NHS contract).
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board have confirmed that 75% of dental contracts have moved onto the contract variation. This represents 96% of the total contract value of commissioned NHS dental services.