Earl Howe, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health with responsibility for dentistry, has confirmed that the Government will review the details of the “system we have inherited.” He also confirmed the Government’s proposed reforms will be announced once they have talked to the profession and patient groups. Earl Howe’s comments came on day five of the Queen’s Speech Debate in the House of Lords, in response to a speech by dental surgeon and Conservative Peer, Lord Colwyn.

Lord Colwyn focused on the unfinished reform on NHS dentistry following the 2009 Steele review. He said that dentistry is at another crossroads and “the decisions made this Parliament to transform the delivery of NHS dentistry will be extremely important.” He welcomed the Government’s commitment to dentistry in its Programme for Government and said that he is pleased that the Government has committed to pilot any changes. Lord Colwyn, who is also an officer of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Dentistry (to which the BDA is elected secretariat), also argued that the new Government must be committed to tackle oral health inequalities to “close the unacceptable chasm which exists between those with good and poor oral health.” He made reference to the BDA’s General Election manifesto, Smiles all round, which also refers to reducing oral health inequalities. Ending the debate, Lord Colwyn said “The coalition has made it clear that dentistry is a priority. The task now is to work out the detail with the profession, to deliver real change for patients and dentists.”

You can view the full exchange at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/lhan7.pdf.