The Government has announced £50million of additional funding for a rapid programme to tackle some of the backlog in dentistry caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the scheme extra appointments will be offered including outside of normal hours to treat people in the early morning, evening, and at weekends.
Funding will secure up to 350,000 additional dental appointments allowing people suffering from oral pain, disease, and infection to get the care they need, as services drive back to pre-pandemic levels.
Children, people with learning disabilities, autism, or severe mental health problems, will be prioritised as part of a dentistry treatment push over the coming months, with the one-off funding available until the end of the financial year.
Locally, NHS teams will use the funds to secure increase care capacity amongst local dentists already operating to help patients suffering from oral ill-health.
Truro and Falmouth’s Member of Parliament Cherilyn Mackrory said:
“The lack of NHS dentistry provision continues to be one of the top issues regularly highlighted to me by residents of Truro and Falmouth, and I am pleased to see this additional funding announced by the Government to help our NHS dentists address the backlog that has arisen during the pandemic.”
“I will be working with our local NHS organisations to ensure Cornwall gets its fair share of the nearly £5million which has been allocated for the South West.”
“Away from the pandemic NHS dentist provision has historically been a concern in Cornwall. I have recently opened a survey around NHS dentist services and waiting times in Truro and Falmouth, to get evidence to present to the NHS and Government colleagues and argue for the changes we need. I would encourage people to fill it in by visiting my website via the link below”:
