Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:21 pm on 14 March 2018.
Over the last decade, we've actually seen 45,000 more NHS patients receiving NHS dental care in Hywel Dda. Our challenge is our ability to keep up with the pace of demand, and I do recognise there are real challenges, particularly around orthodontics, about which I know you've written to me on several occasions. I recognise that some people are waiting longer than they should, but we also need to examine what's actually taking place within the waiting lists, and when people are being referred, whether the appropriate referral is being made at the time. That's part of the need to look at the service.
But, positively, I have spoken to both health boards about their plans, because in the last year both health boards underspent on their ring-fenced dental budgets. So, there is a challenge about making sure they spend the resources they have for dental services. I expect to see improved plans for the year ahead and I give you great assurance about the level of detail in the Hywel Dda plan, because I do understand that they are looking at providing greater services. They've got a plan for the next three years. They're starting a tender process—sorry, there's a tender process under way, and that will include new services at 10 locations across the Hywel Dda health board area. I look for a similar level of confidence in the detail of the plan for north Wales, because I fully expect that you and other Members will continue to ask questions if your constituents continue to wait an unacceptable level of time for the service, or find that there isn't an NHS dentist within a reasonable travelling distance.