York Press column: 2023 – the year of dental care
December 20, 2023
It seems apt that my final fortnightly column of the year would begin with a theme that I have returned to many times in 2023 – NHS dental care.
While traditionally a new year brings new beginnings, a new Minister for Primary Health arrived early and I did not delay in meeting with Dame Andrea Leadsom MP to further the constructive conversations that I had with her predecessor regarding access to NHS dental services in York.
In the meeting, I raised several key areas within the sector that need to be urgently addressed, such as providing incentives for dentists to remain and build careers in the NHS, to increase access to NHS dental care, to boost the workforce to ensure supply matches demand, to reform the outdated NHS dental care contracts, and to address the underspend of dental care which Integrated Care Boards across the country are currently facilitating.
I was impressed by the Minister’s engagement on the matters that I raised and by the fact that she pinpointed dental care as one of her three priorities in this role. I welcome her enthusiasm and innovative thinking around how to improve NHS dentistry services and I very much look forward to the Dentistry Delivery Plan being announced at the start of next year.
Parliament may be getting into the festive mood but usual service continues with lots of opportunities to engage with the issues that matter most to constituents. I was delighted to attend the Guide Dogs Christmas event in Parliament where I joined representatives and colleagues to celebrate the broad array of success that Guide Dogs have had in key campaign areas over 2023. The key successes that we have seen is the introduction of audio-visual announcements on buses, extra funding towards ensuring all railway stations have tactile paving on platforms for the safety of those who are visually impaired, and the reversal on plans to close railway ticket offices. While these are significant wins that will help support and ensure inclusivity for all those living with visual impairments, there is much more to be done. Looking ahead to 2024, I will continue to support Guide Dogs in their campaigns, such as strengthening the law on access rights for guide dog owners.
I also had the pleasure of attending a drop-in session where I had the opportunity to meet with leading experts to discuss a major emerging cardiovascular disease risk factor (CVD) -Lipoprotein(a) / L(a) which has become the leading cause of preventable and premature mortality in the UK.
Improving diagnosis, access, treatment, health outcomes are a huge priority for me, and these sessions allow me to better understand a varied range of well-known and slightly less known conditions which informs my work in Parliament. LP(a) is a key CVD risk factor which is becoming increasingly a more important indicator of an individual’s susceptibility to coronary artery disease and heart failure. The UK is a proud world leader in CVD prevention, and it is important that we ensure that we maintain this status and invest the time and effort into increasing awareness and ensuring better health outcomes in this area.
Back in York, I met with Network Rail to discuss the next steps for Copmanthorpe Level Crossing now that the original order for closure has been withdrawn. To realise the benefits of upgrades to the Transpennine route with faster, more reliable journey times, the level crossing will inevitably have to close but I am reassured that Network Rail will consult residents more thoroughly to ensure all concerns are addressed.
Finally, I would like to wish you and your family enjoy a restful Christmas and I wish you all the best for the year ahead. May 2024 bring you happiness, peace, and prosperity!
