The British Dental Association has backed calls in the new report from the London Assembly’s Health Committee for the Mayor to take a lead on transforming dentistry and oral health.
The report, Decay and delay: The state of dentistry and oral health in London reiterates BDA warnings that dentistry in the capital is not meeting the needs of the population, with unmet need for services estimated at 2 million adults, or 28% of the adult population. It recommends the Mayor take a lead on preventive polices, and uses his influence to press integrated care boards to commission sufficient services and the UK Government on reform of NHS dentistry.
In evidence to the inquiry the professional body argued London had the opportunity to go further on tried-and-tested policies like supervised brushing, just as it has on free school meals. It also urged the Mayor and Assembly to use their collective voice to press for change from the UK Government on inadequate funding, and reform of the discredited NHS dental contract fuelling the access and workforce crises in NHS dentistry. While the Mayor has no direct powers to change the dental contract, the Committee calls on him to ‘lobby the Government to start the process of dental contract reform as a matter of urgency.’
Over six months into office, the UK Government has yet to commence delivery on manifesto pledges on supervised brushing, contract reform or 700,000 new urgent care appointments. Last week the BDA delivered a petition to 10 Downing Street co-signed by over a quarter of a million people calling on the PM to save the service.
BDA Chair Eddie Crouch said: “Sadiq Khan has a powerful voice. On free school meals, the Mayor has already gone further and faster than the UK Government. By using his powers and his influence he can do the same to ease London’s dental crisis.”
