AQW 12751/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 30/05/2024
Answered On Date: 13/06/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, in relation to the announcement of a £9.2 million dental access scheme on 27 March 2024, to detail why (i) the British Dental Association were not provided the details in advance; (ii) the scheme only applies to the 2024-25 financial year when associated business cases will not be completed until the end of May 2024 or, in some cases, August 2024.

Answer:

Whilst the specifics of the Dental Access Scheme were not discussed with the BDA due to time constraints, it is a scheme based on the already existing Pilot for Unregistered Patients and Asylum Seekers Scheme (PUPAS) that has been in place since October 2022. Further, before going out to expressions of interest for the scheme, there was detailed engagement with providers.

Similarly the Enhanced Child Examination Scheme was a reinstatement of a previously existing scheme that ceased when no further funding could be secured.

Business cases for each of the investment streams have all now been completed.

The Department has confirmed that the 30% enhancement to fees associated with fillings extractions and root canal treatment will be applied to all qualifying treatment completed in 2024/25, that will be back-dated to April 2024. The Enhanced Child Examination Scheme commenced on 10 June.

The Dental Access Scheme is a formal pilot Personal Dental Service (PDS) scheme which has a longer operational lead in time and will commence on 1 August 2024. As a pilot PDS, there is a potential to run it for 3 years, pending positive evaluation and continued funding.