Neil Carmichael, Chair of the ADG has awarded Peter Aldous MP the first ADG “parliamentary champion” award in recognition of his work in advocating better access to dentistry for his constituents in Waveney and the East of England. Neil said
“ADG members have been telling us that the hardest parts of the country for recruiting dentists include many rural and coastal communities such as Waveney, Scarborough, Hull, Cornwall and the Isle of Wight.”
“This award is to thank Peter for his work as MP for Waveney making the case for improved access to NHS dentistry in his constituency. We have identified Suffolk and Norfolk as two counties in England at risk of becoming “dental deserts” due to the difficulties in recruiting dentists. We are grateful for the work Peter has done this year in highlighting this to the NHS, Ministers and in Parliament.”
The ADG has called for an increase in the number of UK training places for dentists and incentives for NHS dentists to move to areas with poorer access to dentistry such as Yorkshire, Norfolk and Lincolnshire coastlines. In the short term, overseas recruitment which makes up nearly a fifth of registered dentists, and mutual recognition of qualifications of overseas dentists should be reformed and streamlined.
The adjournment debate in May secured by Peter Aldous on NHS dentistry in Waveney is here.