In the spring, Norfolk Dental Watch will launch. This will see Healthwatch Norfolk encourage people across the county to share their stories via a survey so the organisation can get a clear picture on the issues around lack of care. People can respond via an online survey, by calling Healthwatch Norfolk, or by sending in a video to answer key questions filmed on their mobile phone or tablet.
These experiences will be analysed, and recommendations made for improvement to NHS decision-makers locally and nationally.
The results of this will form part of Healthwatch Norfolk’s first-ever Dental Summit, which will be held in the autumn. During the event, the results of the Norfolk Dental Watch will be published, along with a chance for people to ask questions and get practical advice from a panel of experts.
Alex Stewart, chief executive of Healthwatch Norfolk, said, “Lack of access to NHS dental care remains one of the subjects we hear more about than anything else when we are talking to communities around the county.
“While we appreciate some of the issues around dental care access are reliant on government policy, we are keen to see what can be done on a local and regional level to improve things while also ensuring MPs of all parties continue to highlight the concerns about NHS non-emergency dental care at a national high level.
“The autumn will also mark the first six months of whatever health officials come up with to help ease the pressure locally and we can take stock of that, as well as understand more about what everyone in Norfolk can do to try to ensure the county gets the NHS dental service it deserves.”