Agenda item

Members of the public who wish to speak at this meeting can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection.

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If you are speaking ‘virtually’, you may submit a written statement of your presentation to ensure that your views are taken into account. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9am 2 working days before the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.

Cllr Bethia Thomas submitted the following statement regarding the lack of NHS Dentistry services in the Faringdon area, with reference to the process through which NHS dentistry services were ceased by dental practices.

“I am here after the recent announcement that Faringdon’s dental practice in my division, has closed its doors to all NHS patients. The closure came as a shock to many as it came with very little warning – the statement that recently appeared on their website reads: “Regrettably, our NHS services will end on 30 September 2023. We have explored all available options to carry on providing NHS services, but unfortunately these have been exhausted, and we now have no alternative but to hand back our contract and stop providing NHS services as of 30th September 2023.”

Obviously this has caused great concern to my residents as it is the only practice in Faringdon serving the town and many of the outlying villages in the Western Vale. Many people wrote to us with their concern, and we had to explain that while we have no direct control in this matter, we would do our best to address the situation and find out if anything could be done to restore services locally.

And this is where I have to make a confession, as I realised how little I knew about the nature of NHS Dental provision and who is responsible for it. Initially I wrote to our MP David Johnston as I automatically assumed it is due to national policy and out of local control – incidentally he did get back to us and said he would meet with the practice, though I am still unclear what this action would achieve. Once this approach had been exhausted, I committed to asking a question of the Cabinet Member for Public Health at last week’s full council meeting in county hall. It is clear from his answer that nationally, dental services are in crisis. Over 90% of dental practices are not accepting new patients. The British Dental Association estimated in August last year that after a decade of ‘savage’ cuts, an additional £880 million a year would be needed to restore funding to 2010 levels. This is, of course, shocking, and while I think that it would take a radical change in direction in government funding to redress this situation, and more than a single MP of any colour could do, it did at least vindicate my decision to write to our local member. So, what can be done locally? The county recognises the importance of oral health to our overall wellbeing and is doing what it can to improve provision through its informal influence.

I know that this committee has already looked at this matter in April, summarising the problems with dentistry services in Oxfordshire. It noted that numerous practices are terminating their NHS contracts and explained the arrangements that are supposed to be put in place to try to find local practices to cover this loss temporarily and to find permanent replacements. But replacements are not always available. This may reflect long-term underfunding and structural problems nationally, but as yet, I have not heard any plans on what is being done to seek a replacement service in the Western Vale, and we are left feeling as though we will be living in what has been termed a ‘dental desert’, a problem more and more common in isolated rural areas.

So, I am here today to ask what we can do locally to help solve this problem. The County Council’s Public Health team will shortly be publishing its Oxfordshire Oral Health Needs Assessment that will put a spotlight on the importance of preventive measures within its scope, addressing inequalities, improving oral health care in care homes, and assisting Children and Young people at higher risk of poor oral health, including children in care and care leavers. While this initiative is positive and welcomed it does not address mainstream dentistry and the effects of NHS closures on communities such as mine.

The county does not have a direct role in commissioning or providing dental services in Oxfordshire, with this responsibility sitting with the Integrated Care Board BOB in partnership with NHS England, so I am here now to ask what the ICB’s approach is locally. What if anything can be done to prevent further closures of NHS services, and what can be done to make sure that if communities such as mine are left without provision a replacement can be found.

As we all recognise oral health and access to dentistry is so important to our general health and wellbeing and communities like those across the Western Vale should not be left without these services creating the next dental desert.”