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Tuesday 12 November
Oral Questions, Energy Security and Ner Zero
Westminster Hall Debate, NHS Dentistry in the South West
Westminster Hall Debate, School Transport in Northumberland
Wednesday 13 November
Westminster Hall Debate, Broadband in Rural Areas
Westminster Hall Debate, Tackling Barriers to Educational Opportunities
Tuesday 12 November
Oral Questions, Bus Fleet Carbon Emissions Reduction
Thursday 14 November
Debate, Cost of Renewable Energy and its effect on Energy Costs in the UK
Short Debate, Impact of the Budget on Arts, Heritage and Cultural Organisations
The RSN team will be reviewing transcripts of each of the above and sharing with readers any relevant comments
A debate highlighted in the House, MP Sarah Gibson focused on the crisis facing NHS dentistry in rural areas, specifically due to service closures such as that of Hathaway dental practice in Chippenham. The debate underscored the urgent need for dental service reforms, particularly highlighting the inadequate access in rural communities. MPs across different parties echoed the sentiment of an NHS dental system in disarray, pointing to the specific challenges of rural healthcare, such as fewer dental practices per capita and difficulties in public transportation, which exacerbate access issues.
During the session, MPs discussed the broader implications of the NHS dental contract and the need for immediate reform to incentivise dentists to remain in or return to the NHS fold. The Rural Services Network's analysis was noted, indicating that rural residents have significantly less access to NHS dentists compared to urban dwellers. The conversation also touched on the potential impacts of national insurance changes on dentists’ decisions to abandon NHS contracts in favour of private practice, highlighting a clear disparity in service availability between urban and rural settings.
The Minister for Care acknowledged the crisis and committed to several initiatives aimed at improving rural dental care access, including the recruitment of more dentists in needy areas and increasing urgent dental appointments. However, a significant reform of the dental contract was recognised as essential for long-term solutions.
For further details on the debate, including the full transcript and discussions on the impact on rural dental services, follow this link.
For information, the Government has published the List of Ministerial Responsibilities which includes details of ministerial departments, their correspondence contact details, the Ministers within each department, and their portfolio responsibilities.
You can find the list HERE.