NHS confirms there are no immediate plans to expand dental services in North Yorkshire
NHS England has confirmed that there are no immediate plans to expand dental services in North Yorkshire, despite the fact that local residents and MPs have raised concerns over access to NHS care.
Dental bosses at NHS England met with North Yorkshire County Council’s scrutiny of health committee to discuss the future of services recently, following the closure of practices in Catterick and Richmond. Representatives confirmed that interim measures would be put in place to improve access until March 2019, but revealed that there were no long-term contracts in place yet.
The council heard that NHS England is still awaiting confirmation that procurement for additional services is required and bosses also suggested that it was proving difficult to recruit dentists to work in the area and to find local practices keen to take on NHS contracts. In light of recruitment difficulties, the NHS is working with local services and educational institutions to try and open up training opportunities for students and newly qualified dentists in a bid to encourage them to stay in the area after graduating. It was also suggested that additional provision would be made available if ‘budgets allow.’
According to statistics, more than 300,000 people saw a dentist in the county in the 24-month period leading up to September 2017.
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