Motion

Access to Dental Care

Motion TitleAccess to Dental Care

Motion TextThat this Assembly expresses severe concern at the challenges many people experience in accessing dental care; notes the testimony from the British Dental Association that the shortfall between Department of Health fees for dentists and the cost of providing services means many dental practices are not financially viable and are struggling to continue seeing NHS patients; further notes that early and preventative oral healthcare can help improve health outcomes for patients and reduce demand for wider health services; calls on the Minister of Health to develop a new oral health strategy to address access to services and workforce challenges; and further calls on the Minister to conclude and publish the general dental services cost-of-service review as soon as possible.

Motion CategoryPrivate Members' Motion

Date Tabled to Business Office20/05/2025

Date Selected By Committee20/05/2025

Date of Plenary Debate27/05/2025

View Official Report

Tabled By

Member Name	Tabled As
Miss Nuala McAllister	MLA - North Belfast
Mr Danny Donnelly	MLA - East Antrim
Ms Paula Bradshaw	MLA - South Belfast
Mr Stewart Dickson	MLA - East Antrim

Bills

Outcome/Voting

The Motion, As Amended, Was Carried by Oral Vote

Amendments

Selected Amendments

Number	Tabled Date	Amendment Text
1	22/05/2025	Leave out all after ‘wider health services;’ and insert: 'calls on the Minister of Health to urgently develop, and present, proposals to increase access to dental services and address regional inequalities, alongside consideration of a new oral health strategy to address access to services and workforce challenges; and further calls on the Minister to conclude and publish the general dental services cost-of-service review as soon as possible.'

Other Amendments Tabled

Tabled Date	Amendment Text
22/05/2025	Insert after ‘NHS patients;’: "opposes the privatisation of dental care, which has resulted in unacceptable and widening health inequalities;'
22/05/2025	Leave out all after ‘wider health services;’ and insert: ‘calls on the Minister of Health to develop a new oral health strategy to address access to services, workforce challenges and to achieve full cost recovery for dental practices, to address the shortfall between Department of Health fees and the cost of providing services; and further calls on the Minister to conclude and publish the general dental services cost-of-service review as soon as possible.’

Tabled Date

Amendment Text

22/05/2025

Insert after ‘NHS patients;’: "opposes the privatisation of dental care, which has resulted in unacceptable and widening health inequalities;'

22/05/2025

Leave out all after ‘wider health services;’ and insert: ‘calls on the Minister of Health to develop a new oral health strategy to address access to services, workforce challenges and to achieve full cost recovery for dental practices, to address the shortfall between Department of Health fees and the cost of providing services; and further calls on the Minister to conclude and publish the general dental services cost-of-service review as soon as possible.’

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Access to Dental Care

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