AQW 18887/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 27/11/2024
Answered On Date: 12/12/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any plans to (i) support dentists to continue providing a public service; and (ii) encourage dentists back who are no longer providing a public service.

Answer:

I am aware of the challenges currently being experienced within General Dental Services and I am committed to taking meaningful action to ensure the service works better for both patients and dental professionals.

This is why for many months now, the focus of my Department has been on improving access to General Dental Services, particularly for high-need patients, and establishing options to support the sustainability of dental practices – such as the £9.2m investment announced earlier this year to reestablish the Enhanced Child Examination (ECE), establish the Dental Access Service (DAS), and fund the 30% enhancement to the fees paid for fillings.

The DAS commenced on 1st August 2024. There are currently 30 practices participating in the scheme, details of which (including participating practices) can be viewed at: https://online.hscni.net/dental-access-scheme/. In the first ten weeks the scheme has enabled the treatment of more than 4700 patients with an urgent or pressing dental condition.

From June to November 2024, 18,100 newly registered children have benefitted from the Enhanced Child Examination scheme.

Early indications are that these measures have had a positive impact and my Department will be monitoring the results closely.

While interventions such as the DAS and ECE have been necessary to stabilise the service, long-term change will require sustained effort, rather than a single, one-off intervention. My officials will be engaging with the British Dental Association on how best to achieve these strategic aims, and address the concerns of the profession, as a matter of priority.