Peoples experience of NHS Dental Services
West Yorkshire Insight Report - The public's experience of NHS dentistry May 2023
The report outlines how little has changed despite Healthwatch working hard to represent the patient voice: "We have invested a huge amount of time in raising issues around dental access with NHS England, local dental committees, local dentists, the British Dental Association, local councillors, scrutiny committees, local MPs, and many more organisations and individuals.
"We have persisted with a number of different initiatives and approaches, and have gathered feedback from thousands of people. We have taken the time to understand the widest range of perspectives and present the information in a constructive and competent way."
The report highlights the gap in provision: "Significant numbers of adults and children in West Yorkshire are unable to access routine NHS dentistry.
"This puts them at greater risk of developing significant oral health issues and needing urgent and emergency dental treatment. West Yorkshire is one of the areas in the Yorkshire and Humber with the highest incidence of incisor caries in children aged 5."
Following the meeting, Cathy Elliott, Chair of NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, said: "Healthwatch colleagues explained that dental and oral health is the number one area of concern highlighted by local people and communities. Learning about local people’s experiences about accessing an NHS dental appointment and urgent care reminded us how very important this area of health is for everyone and that improvements to services are needed.
"Flexible commissioning of dental services was highlighted throughout the session and in the Board meeting, and we have asked Ian Holmes, Director of Strategy and Partnerships for NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, to give you an update on work underway and to consider all your feedback in more detail.
"This will help to ensure we do all we can to work together to address the challenges and concerns people face as well as keeping in view opportunities to improve."
Ian Holmes, Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, said: "The Board absolutely recognised the issues that were raised in the engagement session. We understand that access to NHS Dental Services can be difficult, and this is down to several systemic and long-standing issues, which we are working hard to address.
"We are committed to making improvements on dental and oral health services for people and communities. At the meeting we approved a series of recommendations which we believe will make a positive difference over time."
Watch the full NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board meeting from May 16 2023 below
Update: Sepetember 2023
- A range of recommendations has been approved that seek to improve dentistry, for both patients and the profession, including improving communications.
- A proposal has been developed to invest an additional £4.5m this year. This investment will continue to help access to urgent dental care for all people.
- Working to be more flexible when commissioning dental services to help prevent bad experiences and difficulties getting to see a dentist.
- Establishing a local working group, open to patients (including private dental users), people without an NHS dentist, educators, dentists, GPs and parents. This is an opportunity to have your say, share experiences, and influence the delivery of dental services (see below).
- A frequently asked questions page has been set up to offer information to patients.