New dental scheme for children launches in Jersey
A new dental programme for children has launched in Jersey.
The new scheme is designed to benefit secondary school children who are not usually be entitled to state support to benefit from free dental care. Children from families that receive income support and are eligible for the programme will be offered up to £350 to spend on preventative dental treatment.
The initiative has been launched as part of a recovery programme to help patients who have been affected by the pandemic. The Covid-19 crisis has caused widespread disruption to dental services, with routine care suspended and many patients unable to afford private dental treatment.
Children’s Commissioner, Deborah McMillan, explained that the programme is designed to help families that are unable to access dental care as a result of cost. Ms McMillan said that many people have voiced concerns about costs during forums and focus groups with families and young people. She added that the dental scheme is a “positive development” implemented by the government.
Children who are eligible for the payment should be able to access services, including routine check-ups, scale and polish treatments, fluoride varnish treatment, fissure sealant and remedial services, including tooth extraction and fillings.
The initiative will be funded by Customer and Local Services and is expected to cost approximately £240,000.
For many families, it has been difficult to access preventative care and routine dentistry during the pandemic, due to backlogs, which have resulted in teams prioritising urgent cases.
The new dental scheme for children will help to improve access to routine services and enable young people to undergo treatment that will reduce the risk of them needing remedial or complex care in the future.
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