Norwich South MP Clive Lewis has raised concerns about the lack of access to NHS dental care in his constituency. Lewis claimed that refugees living in Norwich are travelling back to Ukraine to receive dental treatment because the service is better there than in Norfolk and Norwich. He highlighted that around 85,000 people are currently on the waiting list for dental care at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. Lewis is among several MPs calling for reforms to the dental care system in England to improve patient access.
In response to Lewis’s comments, Health Secretary Steve Barclay stated that there are 6.5% more dentists than when the current government came into power. He also mentioned that there has been a 25% increase in dental activity compared to the previous year. Barclay diverted the focus to the investment in the electives programme in Norfolk, including the funding of two new hospitals. However, Lewis’s concerns about the lack of dental care access in Norfolk remains a pressing issue.
The lack of NHS dental services in Norfolk has led to the region being referred to as a ‘dental desert’, with demand far exceeding supply. Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Social Care approved a project to develop new outpatient imaging buildings at Norfolk and Norwich, James Paget, and Queen Elizabeth hospitals. This indicates some progress in addressing the issue, but more needs to be done to alleviate the strain on dental services in the area.
The dire situation is exemplified by an incident where hundreds of people queued through the streets of King’s Lynn to register with an NHS dentist. This highlights the desperation of many residents in Norfolk who are unable to access dental care. It is clear that reforms and investments are needed to improve the availability and quality of dental services in the region. The concerns raised by MP Clive Lewis serve as a reminder that dental care should not be neglected and that action needs to be taken to ensure that everyone has access to necessary dental treatment.
