Full News Report

8th November 2024

NHS dental provision slammed

THE chronic lack of NHS dentists in South East Cornwall has been highlighted by Morval’s county councillor, Cllr Armand Toms.

Admitting that his concerns were nothing new, Cllr Toms, the independent member for the Looe East and Deviock ward (it includes Morval parish), told Sarah McFarlane, the dental network manager for NHS England (South West), that dental provision had been on the agenda throughout his 21 years as a councillor.

“Now the lack of NHS provision is causing issues in towns and villages across the South West and waiting lists for getting an NHS dentist grow by the day,” he said.

In calling for a Peer Review (Traditionally an evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the original work, in order to maintain quality standards, improve performance, and provide credibility), Cllr Toms asked why the country trained so few dentists if there was such a desperate need for their services.

“Why, when we have such poor dental health with our children, are we not allowing Dental Hygienists to carry out small fillings as they do in Wales?,” he questioned.

“Why are we not putting on free training for dentists with conditions that they work for the NHS for ten years?”

Cllr Toms said that the NHS should end their reliance on foreign dentists, adding that the country’s own youngsters should be given the chance to train for the profession.

“Can we also allow Foundation Trusts to run dental surgeries as fully functioning NHS providers for community in areas not served with dental provision.” he said. “Replace the 2006 dental contract with a new one that makes NHS dental work worthwhile.” 

Cllr Toms noted that Wales was providing bursaries for dentists to work in rural areas and wondered why England was not doing the same.  

“The Service needs to engage with the planning process to gain from Section 106 monies from developments, especially large-scale ones,” he said.

And he concluded" “Sorry about this rant but in business, when you have a problem, you fix it, yet the NHS does not.”