AQW 3993/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 03/10/2022
Answered On Date: 12/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health how his decision to cut interim dental funding through the Rebuilding Support Scheme from 25 per cent to 10 per cent enhancement from October can help address the dental access crisis in Northern Ireland.

Answer:

The General Dental Services (GDS) Rebuilding Support Scheme (RSS) was introduced in April 2022 to support dental practitioners with the impact of the pandemic. With the impact of the pandemic significantly reducing over the past few months and most restrictions now removed, the justification for ongoing support has also reduced. However, it is acknowledged that the impacts have not entirely receded with inefficiencies created by increased “Did Not Attends” and associated staff absences. It is for this reason that I committed to continuing support to the end of the financial year.

To ensure that those patients most in need are able to obtain a dental appointment, any General Dental Practitioner signed up to the RSS is required to treat patients with an urgent or emergency dental condition based on clinical need, regardless of their registration status.

In addition, any patient who has an urgent or emergency dental need, including those on pension credit or those entitled to free dental treatment, is able to make use of an Emergency Dental Clinic during weekends or Public Holidays. There the patient will be triaged remotely, and appropriate advice given or treatment arranged.

To further help those in most need, on 3 October 2022, my Department commenced a scheme throughout Northern Ireland to provide access to non-registered patients who are experiencing an emergency or urgent dental condition.

Support being provided to dental practices will remain under ongoing review.