Dental Plan “too little too late” for 82,704 children not seen by an NHS dentist in the Suffolk and North Essex Integrated Care Trust (ICB)

West Suffolk Liberal Democrats have challenged the Government’s new dental plan as figures show that 82,704 children in the Suffolk and North Essex ICB had not been seen by an NHS dentist in 12 months.

The research, commissioned from the House of Commons Library, estimates the number of children who weren’t seen by an NHS dentist in the two years to June 2023, based on the latest data from the health service.

It shows a staggering 44.9% of children who had not been seen by a dentist in the Suffolk & North Essex region over the latest two years to June. In the same area and timeframe 453,813 adults had not been seen by an NHS dentist. For context, that equates to 60.7% of adults who went without dental care over a period of 24 months.

It has previously been estimated that the NHS budget was underspent by a record £400 million last year, due to dentists not finding it economical to take on NHS work.

The Lib Dems are calling for a dental healthcare rescue plan to boost the number of appointments.  The Lib Dems are also calling for reforms to guarantee access to an NHS dentist for everyone needing urgent and emergency care, ending DIY dentistry and “dental deserts” and the removal of VAT on children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Henry Batchelor, Liberal Democrat lead campaigner for West Suffolk and Peter McDonald, Liberal Democrat lead campaigner for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket commented:

“The Government’s plans are too little too late for local families who have been left waiting in pain, struggling to get a dentist appointment.

It is appalling that so many children in our area are struggling to see an NHS dentist when they need to. We know that if children can’t access dental health care it can disrupt their eating, sleeping and learning.

Instead of these half-baked reforms, we need a proper rescue package for dental healthcare.  That means guaranteeing access to an NHS dentist for everyone needing emergency care, boosting the number of appointments and removing VAT on children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste.”