New emergency clinic part of £8m dental package

An emergency dental clinic is to be established in the Western Trust area as part of an £8m investment in general dental services, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced.

He said the measures were intended to improve access for patients who cannot secure routine dental appointments and help reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments.

The funding package also includes extra training places for newly-qualified dentists and the continuation of a scheme to encourage dental registrations for children up to the age of 10.

Nesbitt said the plans were part of wider efforts to stabilise dental services while longer-term reforms are developed.

"I have been clear in my commitment to the ongoing reform of the dental service so that it works better for both patients and practitioners," he said.

"The measures announced today will help stabilise the service and enhance access to dentists."

The minister said workforce pressures remained a key challenge and that increasing training places would help improve capacity and support the future sustainability of NHS dentistry.

He said targeted investment was necessary to ensure services reached those most in need.

The announcement was welcomed by the SDLP MP for Foyle Colum Eastwood, who said many people were struggling to get a dental appointment in the north west.

"For people, it can feel virtually impossible to get a dentist appointment," Eastwood said.

"Many are not registered with a health service dentist and are left to manage painful conditions without adequate support."

Eastwood said the emergency clinic would be a positive step for those in urgent need of treatment but warned that wider problems in accessing routine care remained.

"There are broader challenges facing dentistry and more significant investment in preventative services is needed," he said.