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Dental Access Surges in Staffordshire
5 Mar
Summary
- Over 3,000 referred to NHS dentists in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke.
- Increased payments to practices led to more urgent dental appointments.
- Practices are actively recruiting NHS patients, a decade-long shift.
Health officials report substantial progress in oral health and dental access across Staffordshire, particularly in areas like Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent. Following a critical report on patient access difficulties, a new scheme has successfully referred over 3,000 individuals to NHS dentists. This initiative, spearheaded by the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB), has yielded "incredibly positive" results, according to primary care lead Laura Bird.
The ICB's decision to increase payments to dental practices has significantly boosted dental activity. This has resulted in an additional 16,190 urgent dental appointments being delivered annually across the county. A public awareness campaign is also underway to encourage patient demand for these enhanced services.
Local representatives have noted the tangible improvements. Councillor Daniela Santoro observed a noticeable increase in NHS dental activity within her ward, highlighting that two practices are actively recruiting NHS patients, a phenomenon not seen for a decade. Councillor Majid Khan welcomed the overdue changes, especially for deprived areas in Stoke-on-Trent, emphasizing the positive impact on community access to dental care.
