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Written question asked by Perran Moon (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 May 2025 (named day). A holding answer was provided on Thursday, 22 May 2025. A substantive answer was provided by Stephen Kinnock (Labour) on Thursday, 22 May 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Dental Services: Camborne and Redruth

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the provision of dentistry services in Camborne and Redruth constituency.

Answer

The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Camborne and Redruth constituency, this is the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly ICB. ICBs have been asked to start making extra urgent dental appointments available from April 2025. The Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly ICB is expected to deliver 10,910 additional urgent dental appointments as part of the scheme.

ICBs have started to advertise posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years. As of 10 April 2025, in England, there are 53 dentists in post with a further 44 dentists who have been recruited but are yet to start in post under this scheme. Another 256 posts are currently advertised.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
52463
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Dental services Camborne and Redruth
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk