Tackling the dentistry crisis in North Devon - Selaine Saxby

The shortage of dentists we have across North Devon is not something new, when I moved to North Devon I spent 18 months travelling back and forth to Somerset to see my former dentist as I could not find a local dentist with an opening.

Following the covid-19 pandemic, the problem has been worsening, and rarely does a week go by without dentistry being at the top of my casework folder.

In an effort to tackle the problem I have engaged with ministers, worked with our Integrated Care Board and spoken with local dentistry providers. Unfortunately, the issue is complex, and rooted in other areas of my work such as the lack of affordable housing in the region. The Government has brought in a number of changes to dental contracts and the recruitment of overseas dentists which will improve the availability of dental services in the long term, but North Devon needs more dentists now.

This is why I have launched a parliamentary petition to show the Government how urgent the lack of dentists is in North Devon, and that concrete steps need to be taken to bring more dentists here in the short term. The petition is:

To the House of Commons.

The petition of residents of the constituency of North Devon,

Declares that the sustained lack of dental provision in North Devon has led to a critical reduction in health outcomes; notes that access to dental services has worsened since the pandemic and despite ongoing work from government ministers, the NHS, the County Council and Integrated Care Board the situation continues to get worse, not better; further declares that to ensure that the people of North Devon’s health is not negatively affected any further concrete steps need to be taken now to bring more dental provision to our constituency.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to assist with emergency dental provision in North Devon.

By signing this petition, it will demonstrate to Westminster that particular attention is needed in North Devon and the situation cannot be overlooked any longer. The petition can either be signed in person or online, the online petition can be found at https://www.change.org/DentistsinNorthDevon. If you would like your signature to be part of the physical presentation in parliament then please contact my office at selaine.saxby.mp@parliament.uk for a physical copy.

I know that the situation is particularly acute when it comes to orthodontists, and I have received a number of emails from parents who have told me about the difficulties they are having finding someone to care for their children’s braces. I have written to the Minister for Primary Care and Public Health, Neil O’Brien about the chronic lack of Orthodontic services and have urged him to look closely at how we can secure specific funding for rural dental services. I have spoken with My Dentist who working hard to find an orthodontist to join their Barnstaple team which is a welcome step.

The first ever surgery I held when I became an MP was on the dentistry and now that parliament has returned I want to assure everyone who has written to me that it will continue to be the top of my priority list.