AQW 8303/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health what action he is taking to ensure children can access NHS dental services.
Asked by Connie Egan MLA on 6 March 2024
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 6 March 2024
- Answer due by
- 22 March 2024
- Answered
- 11 March 20245 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
General Dental Practitioners are independent contractors and are not required to register new patients. Neither does the Department commission Health Service places in practices, for adults or children.
There are nineteen practices in the North Down Assembly Area who have made arrangements with the Strategic Performance and Planning Department to provide Health Service dentistry. The Department does not hold any information as to whether these practices currently have room to accept new registrations of children.
General Dental Practices in the North Down Assembly Area at 31st December 2023
| Practice1, 2 | Practice Address |
| Abbey Dental Surgery | 32 ABBEY STREET, BANGOR, BT20 4JA |
| Ballyholme Dental Practice | 22A GROOMSPORT ROAD, BANGOR, BT20 5LN |
| Bangor Orthodontics | 2 BINGHAM LANE, BANGOR, BT20 5DR |
| Brunswick Dental Practice | 38 BRUNSWICK ROAD, BANGOR, BT20 3DU |
| BUPA Dental Care Bangor Springhill | BANGOR SPRINGHILL, 4A KILLEEN AVENUE, BT19 1NB |
| Castlebawn Dental Practice | 32-34 Victoria Road, Bangor, BT20 5EX |
| Clandeboye Dental Clinic | 109G CLANDEBOYE ROAD, BANGOR, BT20 3JW |
| Donaghadee Dental Surgery | 55/57 HIGH STREET, DONAGHADEE, BT21 0AQ |
| Hamilton Road Dental | 42 HAMILTON ROAD, BANGOR, BT20 4LE |
| Harbour Dental Practice | 13 THE PARADE, DONAGHADEE, BT21 0AE |
| Hazeldene Dental Practice | 64 DONAGHADEE RD, BANGOR, BT20 4QX |
| Helens Bay Dental Practice | 1A STATION ROAD, HELENS BAY, BT19 1TN |
| High Street Dental Practice | 116 HIGH STREET, HOLYWOOD, BT18 9HW |
| Hollywood Dental Care | 128 HIGH STREET, HOLYWOOD, BT18 9HW |
| Livingston Dental Healthcare | 38 HAMILTON ROAD, BANGOR, BT20 4LE |
| Mercer Dental Care | 97 BRUNSWICK ROAD, BANGOR, BT20 3DW |
| Nigel Smith Dental Care | 107 HAMILTON ROAD, BANGOR, BT20 4LN |
| Richard Loane & Associates | 4 HAMILTON ROAD, BANGOR, BT20 4LE |
| Shore Road Dental & Implant Clinic | 32 SHORE ROAD, HOLYWOOD, BT18 9HX |
Active dental surgeries at the 31st December 2023.
List may include a number of Orthodontic and Specialist Practices. These practices do not typically have registered patient lists, with instead patients normally seen on referral from a GDS dental practice.
A key part of the access issues facing patients are the rates being paid to our dentists for treatment. The absence of Executive Ministers has delayed the recommended pay uplifts for staffing groups for 2023/24. In recent days I have considered proposals for a pay uplift for General Dental Services for 2023/24 that is in line with recommendations contained in the 51st Doctors and Dentists Review Board report. My intentions were communicated to the British Dental Association (Northern Ireland) on 5 March 2024 and the Department awaits a response. Officials have already been making arrangements in anticipation of funding being made available to ensure that uplifts can be implemented as quickly as possible.
I am currently considering investment proposals to further support General Dental Services into 2024/25, which will be shared with the British Dental Association in due course.
A consultation on both Older Persons’ and Children’s Oral Health Improvement plans came to an end this week, on 4 March. The consultation ran for 12 weeks and sought feedback on the recommendations made in each plan.
A pilot scheme is currently running to provide appointments to unregistered patients who require emergency dental treatment during the working week. If a patient is not registered with a dentist, requires emergency dental treatment, and has been unable to access an appointment, they can contact their local Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) office for advice.