Delivering on dentistry this parliamentary term
25 October 2024
By Catherine Rutland, Clinical Director at Denplan
With the Autumn Party Conferences having come to an end, we now have a clearer sense of the Government’s immediate priorities. We’ve also heard from the opposition parties who will be scrutinising national policy.
As Labour enters its first full parliamentary term, what can we expect when it comes to dentistry and where are the opportunities to demonstrate the link between this issue and the wider challenges we know the Government is hoping to address?
Prevention is one part of the Government’s plan to fix the NHS
Despite access to dental services being high on the election agenda, it was strangely absent in Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP’s speech at the Labour Party Conference.
Following Lord Ara Darzi’s assessment of the NHS published in September, his speech instead reiterated Labour’s mission to ensure the NHS is fit for the future – arguing “The NHS is broken but not beaten” – the need for reform and the link between a healthy country and growing economy.
One policy area which saw a strong focus was a continued commitment to the Government’s prevention agenda. Speaking as the Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne MP discussed his plans to make England a ‘Marmot Nation’ by tackling health inequalities and prioritising prevention. But the challenge remains – how will this practically be achieved when the nation’s current health demands are so acute?
Dentistry is a key area where this ambition can be realised. If sugar, fizzy drinks, nutrition and diet are being talked about in this context, surely oral health should be included in wider Government healthcare campaigns and messaging?
We have an opportunity to demonstrate to the Government that taking a preventative approach to oral health is critical to avoiding long-term oral health issues and relieving pressure on a hugely strained NHS.
Oral health must be prioritised within plans to improve children’s health
Another policy area that came through strongly at the Labour Party Conference was the Government’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of children. However, on a panel about children’s dietary health with a focus on deprivation, the effect on education of poor diet, obesity and Type 2 diabetes, there was no mention of oral health.
We know that 1,400 children have been to A&E with tooth decay issues in the past year, with this being the most common reason for hospital admission in children aged between 5 and 9 years. The Minister for Care, Stephen Kinnock MP, recently described the situation for children’s oral health as being “shocking”.
The Government has pledged to establish a supervised tooth-brushing scheme for 3- to 5-year-olds. This is very much in alignment with the work Denplan is already undertaking across the country to support children to learn about the importance of good oral health, as part of our BrightBites programme.
We must ensure that children’s oral health continues to receive Government support over the coming months as a priority health challenge, alongside other critical issues.
A strong message on dentistry from the Liberal Democrats
Elsewhere, other political parties debated the key challenges facing the nation around oral health. In his speech, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davy MP talked about parents ‘searching in vain for an NHS dentist for their kids’ and the importance of securing more dentists. Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP described it as a ‘scandal’ that millions of children are going without basic dental care.
It is encouraging to see this attention on these issues from opposition parties, who will be crucial in maintaining the profile of dentistry in Parliament and holding the Government to account in delivering against its commitments.
Lack of understanding about how the system works
One issue that has emerged as part of recent debate is that widespread misunderstandings about the challenges facing the sector persist. As we examine what is needed to improve patient access to dental care, it is crucial to listen to, recognise and appreciate the whole dental team, including nurses, technicians and hygienists.
This includes raising awareness of the vital role of mixed and private practice and working collaboratively to turn innovative approaches and commitment into tangible improvements for the sector.
What’s next?
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP will deliver her first Budget on 30th October which presents a chance to re-set spending on public services and look at wider capital investment. Also on the horizon is the publication of the NHS 10-year plan next Spring, following the publication of Lord Darzi’s report.
We have an important opportunity to call on the Government to ensure that improving access to dental services is prioritised and that the voice of the dental sector is heard in policy planning. The issues facing the sector are varied, and not solely based on contract reform. We need to ensure this is understood.
Denplan is currently developing a white paper report on the future of the dentistry, bringing together key insights and data including findings from our latest Member Survey. It will explore how reforms, including establishing a private and mixed model of provision, could support improved access to dentistry and help realise the Government’s ambitions in dentistry and health more widely.
Your role as a Denplan member
Being able to talk to people about the challenges in dentistry, especially with a new government and many new MPs is an important opportunity we can leverage. As one of Denplan's 6,500 member dentists ensuring accessible dental care, we look forward to continuing to work with you to advocate at a local level for dentistry as a priority policy issue. We will continue to share updates on the publication of our Future of Dentistry white paper, alongside other resources, to support your efforts in this area.