A growing number of members have recently joined a group focused on improving dental care in North Devon, in response to the escalating dental crisis in the area. The North Devon Dental Steering Group convened last week with key attendees, including representatives from the Integrated Care Board (ICB), the NHS, local dentists, local authorities, and other important stakeholders.
Formed to address critical issues related to NHS dentistry access and to tackle oral health disparities, the group has set its sights on making significant improvements to dental care across North Devon. The area has faced a growing shortage of dentists, with more leaving than joining the profession, a trend that has worsened compared to the rest of Devon. In fact, in 2022-23, North Devon saw a troubling increase in vacancies, with more than half of local dental practices reporting unfilled positions.
The group’s efforts will focus on several key goals, including enhancing dental access and improving preventative care, especially for vulnerable groups such as schoolchildren, care home residents, and those with specific health conditions. Recruitment and retention of NHS dental professionals remain significant hurdles, with the workforce shortage being one of the primary challenges in the region.
Among the new members of the steering group are the chief executive of North Devon Council, Devon County Council’s oral health lead, and a breast cancer nurse specialist from North Devon District Hospital. Other additions include NHS oral health improvement practitioners. Together, these individuals are committed to tackling the region’s dental access problems with a multifaceted approach.
One of the primary initiatives discussed in the meeting was developing an oral health pathway for cancer patients, ensuring they have proper access to dental advice and treatment under the NHS. Other ideas included expanding oral health school visits and working with local organizations to improve preventative care strategies in the community.
Ian Roome, MP for North Devon, has emphasized the urgency of the issue, calling NHS dentistry a “top priority” for the region. He is committed to holding monthly meetings to bring together key players and ensure ongoing efforts to address the area’s dental care crisis.
Roome highlighted the severity of the problem, citing that around 80,000 children in Devon did not receive treatment from an NHS dentist last year. He expressed his frustration over the government’s lack of action, stating, “The new Government is overlooking and neglecting dentistry,” and warned that NHS dentistry in North Devon was on the brink of collapse.
The North Devon Dental Steering Group, founded by Roome, aims to take concrete action rather than engage in endless discussions. As he puts it, “We cannot ignore this situation any longer.” The group’s push for urgent change is part of a growing movement to ensure the region’s residents have better access to essential dental care.
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