Lord Rogan of Lower Iveagh has called on the UK Government to ensure that the concerns of Northern Ireland’s dentists and their patients are at the core of Ministers’ efforts to save the national dental sector from “disaster” because of coronavirus.
Speaking during a virtual sitting of the House of Lords, Lord Rogan said: “The United Kingdom’s dentists are also heroes and heroines of this pandemic.
“In Northern Ireland, 100 dentists were sought to run emergency clinics but over 400 stepped forward, and dozens more have volunteered to work in care homes.”
He informed peers of a recent British Dental Association survey which warned that three quarters of Northern Ireland’s dental practices could collapse by the summer because of Covid-19.
Lord Rogan of Lower Iveagh
Lord Rogan asked Health and Social Care Minister Lord Bethell: “Can I urge you to urgently consider adopting a UK-wide approach to saving our dental sector from disaster?”
Responding on behalf of the Government, Lord Bethell assured Lord Rogan that his points were “well understood.”
The Minister acknowledged that dental practices dependent on private income were particularly vulnerable, “because the NHS has guaranteed the income to NHS practices for their NHS work.”
Lord Bethell continued: “We are working on a UK-wide national plan. It is a massive priority for the Government.”
Commenting afterwards, Lord Rogan – a past President of the Ulster Unionist Party -said he was pleased that his fears about the future of Northern Ireland dentistry had been accepted by the Health and Social Care Minister.
But he added: “Whilst I would not question the integrity of Lord Bethell, I have much graver reservations about accepting the word of those further up the chain inside the current UK Government, for which Northern Ireland seems to be the least of their priorities.
“Our dentists and patients must be at the heart of the now promised national plan to save the dental sector.
“This must include a guarantee that Northern Ireland’s dentists have full access to the high volume of personal protective equipment that will be essential for them to do their jobs safely when the time comes to reopen practices.
“Let’s hope, on behalf of local dentists and their patients, that this moment is not too far away.”
Lord Rogan said he also intends to table Written Parliamentary Questions on the issue.