A call to action

The aim is to stimulate ideas about the NHS dental service in order to improve oral health, increase access to the NHS dental services and reduce financial problems.

To take part in the survey you will need to submit your views by 16 May 2014 to:

  • The online survey
  • Email [email protected]
  • Write to Martin Smith, senior programme manager, Primary Care Strategies, Commissioning Development, room 4E56 Quarry House, Leeds, LS2 7UE.

Barry Cockcroft, NHS England chief dental officer, said: ‘As someone who graduated over 40 years ago and has always had an interest in what happens beyond the walls of my own dental practice, it is a great privilege to hold the post of chief dental officer for England.

'Dentistry was one of the founding pillars of the NHS at its inception in 1948, and NHS dental services have made a significant contribution to the improvement in the nation’s oral health since that time.

'Oral health in England is amongst the best in the world and we should be proud of our achievements.

'But just as in other areas of healthcare, there are concerns about the sustainability of our current model for delivering dental services in the NHS.

'We have a growing population with a longer life expectancy; patient expectations about what “quality” care means and when and how they receive it are higher than they were previously and we are operating in a climate of significant financial constraint.

'In many ways our past success increases the pressures for the future.

'Much has changed since I went to university in 1969.

'For a start, fluoride toothpaste was hard to find.

'At that time around 40% of the adult population had no natural teeth – this was regarded as a positive, in that good quality care was seen as removing diseased teeth, or those that were considered likely to become diseased, and replacing them with full dentures.

'Now our approach to maintaining good oral health is more sophisticated and patient expectations around avoiding tooth loss are, quite rightly, higher.

'Today only 4% of the adult population have no natural teeth.

'And are you aware of the contribution that dentists now make in identifying people at risk of diseases such as oral cancers?

'One of the really interesting questions for the future is how we can extend this expertise to identifying people at risk of other long term conditions.

'In launching “Improving dental care and oral health – a call to action” I want to stimulate debate about how NHS England can develop a strategic framework for meeting the challenges that we face.

'We know that access to NHS dental services could be even better, that there remain too many health inequalities and that in some cases the patient experience could be improved – but we cannot do it alone.

'We need the help of the professional bodies, front line dental teams and others including patients and the public.

'When I look back at the past achievements of NHS dentistry since 1948 I am proud of our successes, but I am equally excited about the future.

'We must not under-estimate the challenges facing the NHS as a whole, but this call to action presents us with a unique opportunity for national and local debate and I encourage you to take part through the written survey.'

If you would like to submit your views by the 16 May 2014, you can do so by:

  • The online survey
  • Email [email protected]
  • Write to Martin Smith, senior programme manager, Primary Care Strategies, Commissioning Development, room 4E56 Quarry House, Leeds, LS2 7UE.
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