Cumbria MP to write to local dentists in a bid to increase NHS capacity
The MP for South Lakes, Tim Farron, is writing to local dentists in a bid to increase NHS capacity in the area.
Mr Farron has decided to reach out to local dental practices after learning that NHS England had contacted dentists to ask them if they would be willing to accept more NHS patients in return for additional funding. Most dentists in the region did not respond to or accept the proposal and Mr Farron is keen to find out why practices don’t want to proceed with the deal and reinforce the message for those who may not have considered the offer previously.
In his letter to dental teams in the South Lakes, Mr Farron invited individuals to contact him and let him know what he can do to help them at what is a difficult time for dental practices. The new funding model would reward practices based on paid sessions, rather than paying dentists per unit of activity.
Mr Farron has asked practices to consider the offer and urged those who have thought about it and decided against accepting the proposal to explain why. This will provide more information about why dentists don’t want to increase NHS capacity at this time and highlight barriers, which may be preventing dentists from taking on more NHS work.
There are currently no available NHS dental places for adults in the region and recently, Bupa Dental Care confirmed that it would be closing its Barrow practice, leaving thousands more patients without an NHS dentist.
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