Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ben Goldsborough and Stephen Kinnock

Tuesday 13th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Ben Goldsborough (South Norfolk) (Lab)]

T3. My South Norfolk constituents welcome the Government’s commitment to 250 new neighbourhood health centres. For rural areas such as mine, where healthcare can be miles away, this is a real turning point. Long Stratton is a growing town, yet it is distant from Norfolk’s main health hubs. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss how delivering a neighbourhood health centre for Long Stratton will dramatically improve health outcomes in South Norfolk?

[The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)]

We are committed to delivering 250 centres by 2035, with a progressive roll-out over this Parliament. Early sites are focused on areas of greatest need, with consideration of factors including deprivation and access. Integrated care systems are in the process of planning the best holistic local configuration of a neighbourhood service. I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss the potential for a neighbourhood health centre for Long Stratton.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ben Goldsborough and Stephen Kinnock

Tuesday 25th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Ben Goldsborough (South Norfolk) (Lab)]

9. What steps his Department is taking to improve access to NHS dental services in Norfolk.

[The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)]

NHS dentistry is out of reach for too many people, and that issue is felt particularly acutely in rural areas such as Norfolk. This Government are rolling out extra urgent dental appointments across the country, and we will be making further improvements for patients to come in from April 2026. NHS dentistry was left to rot for 14 years under the Conservatives; Labour is putting it on the road to recovery.

[Ben Goldsborough]

After 16 months of a Labour Government, the share of adults in Norfolk seen by a dentist has risen from barely scraping 30% to well over 40%—lots done, but lots more to be done. The University of East Anglia proposed a dental school as part of the solution. Will the Minister work with Department for Education colleagues to ensure that the Office for Students and other bodies give it the green light?

[Stephen Kinnock]

I, too, am absolutely delighted that more patients can see a dentist in Norfolk but, as my hon. Friend says, there is a long way to go. We are certainly not complacent, but we are showing that it is possible to turn things around. I am also pleased that the University of East Anglia has been approved as a dental school by the General Dental Council. The Office for Students has statutory responsibility for allocating dental school places, but I fully agree that UEA would be a good candidate for any additional Government-funded places allocated in future.