Delivering on My Pledge: More NHS Dental Appointments

Fixing NHS Dentistry in Amber Valley

During my campaign to becoming Amber Valley's MP I knocked on a lot of doors! Even today, I go out to speak to Amber Valley residents ,on their doorsteps, as often as possible. It is here I often get a real sense of the issues facing our community.

From the hundreds of conversations I've had one thing is clear: Amber Valley residents have been suffering from a lack of NHS dentistry for too long. I've heard far too many heart-breaking stories from people experiencing acute toothache, unable to see a dentist despite being in desperate need. I’ll never forget the gentleman who showed me the gaps in his smile, having resorted to pulling out his own teeth. Sadly, his story was not unique.

I invited now Health Minister, Wes Streeting to visit Amber Valley to see for himself that Amber Valley residents were so desperate they were forced to turn to DIY dentistry. He agreed that we are an "NHS dentistry desert" and vowed to work on fixing this situation. I made it my first election pledge to bring more NHS dentists to Amber Valley.

I wanted to understand why so few dental surgeries in Amber Valley were able to see NHS patients. I met with one of the dedicated dentists still providing NHS care, and the picture they painted was stark. These dedicated dentists were working long hours to see as many NHS patients as they could, but still had a two year waiting list. They told me that at the root of the problem was an NHS contract not fit for purpose. Here, in Amber Valley, the problem was being made worse by the fact that surgeries in neighbouring constituencies were being paid more per patient. This made it nearly impossible for Amber Valley practices to recruit and retain NHS dentists. 

In January, I brought together representatives from the local surgeries still offering NHS appointments and the Derbyshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), responsible for allocating NHS payments. I made it clear to the ICB that Amber Valley was at crisis point and called for immediate action to address the funding gap.

I am grateful that that ICB listened to me and have responded with action.

Securing £240,000 for More NHS Dentists in Amber Valley

Thanks to our meeting, the ICB has secured an additional £240,000 to increase the payments awarded to each Amber Valley dentist. They are encouraging practices to use this uplift to recruit more NHS dentists and offer more appointments. I will be watching closely to ensure this support translates into real change for local residents.

Pushing for a Long-Term Solution

But this is only part of the solution. Last month, I met with Stephen Kinnock, the minister responsible for dentistry. He assured me that his department is working closely with the British Dental Association to renegotiate the broken NHS contract-a long-term fix designed to address the root causes of this crisis. After years of sticking-plaster initiatives from the previous government, which cost millions but made things worse, this new approach is essential.

 Immediate Help for Those in Urgent Need

This government also recognises the need for urgent action. That’s why they have delivered an additional 700,000 emergency appointments for those in immediate need. Over 16,000 of these appointments are available in Derbyshire and I urge anyone in pain to call 111 to access an urgent appointment.

 My Pledge to Amber Valley

Repairing a broken NHS will take time, but this government is listening and acting. Here in Amber Valley, I will continue working to deliver on my pledge: to make sure everyone can see a dentist when they need to.

If you have experiences or concerns about NHS dentistry in Amber Valley, please get in touch. Your stories help drive the change we need.