MP Bob Seely has welcomed the news that a new mobile dental service is coming to the Isle of Wight next month.
He said: “The dental bus is a very welcome step forward. There is more to do but this will help those Islanders who are struggling the most to access a dentist.”
The mobile dental service will provide dental check-ups, oral cancer screening and emergency treatment including fillings and extractions, plus preventative care for children, dentures, emergency care and oral health advice.
Appointments are required.
The mobile dental service is part of a wider initiative to improve NHS dental capacity on the Isle of Wight. This includes:
- Temporary payments to Island NHS dental practices to increase treatments.
- Recommissioning of contracts for NHS dentists on the island to increase NHS capacity.
Today’s mobile dental service announcement follows the government’s announcement of a new NHS dentistry plan on 7 February 2024.
The NHS Dental Recovery Plan includes the following measures:
- Dental practitioners will receive increased payment for every patient treated, plus additional payment for treating a new patient.
- Higher payments for treating those requiring complex dental work.
- Mobile dental teams will be visiting schools.
In a letter to the Health Secretary, Mr Seely has asked how the NHS Dental Recovery Plan will positively affect dentistry on the Isle of Wight, and when those changes will take place.
“I want to ensure that the Island receives its fair share of the services included in the new NHS plan. This is all part of getting a better deal for the Island,” Seely said.
