Oral Answers to Questions

Richard Baker Excerpts

Tuesday 19th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Pakes (Peterborough) (Lab)]

7. What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to NHS dentists.

[Richard Baker (Glenrothes and Mid Fife) (Lab)]

18. What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to NHS dentists.

[Dan Aldridge (Weston-super-Mare) (Lab)]

23. What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to NHS dentists.

--- Later in debate ---

[Stephen Kinnock]

I am very pleased to hear about what my hon. Friend’s ICB is doing. Working with the dental sector, we will deliver measures to improve access, targeting areas that need it most. Those measures include 700,000 additional urgent appointments and reform of the dental contract. The golden hello scheme, which incentivises dentists to work in underserved areas, is under way across the country, and dentists are also being offered a new patient premium to treat new patients.

[Richard Baker]

Does the Minister agree that it is unacceptable that more than 40,000 people in Fife are not registered with an NHS dentist? Will he share any learning from this Government’s action to increase access to dentistry with his colleagues in the Scottish Government, and urge them to fulfil their responsibilities so that people in my constituency can get the dental treatment that they need?