Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 1:34 pm on 11 May 2022.
Good afternoon, Minister. Minister, it is a worrying fact that many dental practices have struggled to return to normal as we emerge from the pandemic. Routine check-ups are not being offered. People are reluctant to bother their dentists for an appointment because they feel that a check-up might not be seen as important enough. And many people cannot access an adequate out-of-hours service for emergency advice and appointments. A check-up is, however, vital to the patient: problems can be identified earlier and a dentist is qualified to advise on the wider questions of oral health. Can the Minister outline what discussions she has had with the British Dental Association about the capacity of our dental services, and what plans does she have to ensure we have the right number of dentists working in Wales? Thank you.