Government to explore ‘non-van solutions’ to improve access to dentistry

In the government’s ‘NHS Dental Recovery Plan’ published in February 2024, it pledged to help improve access in the “most isolated communities” by providing dental vans.

NHS England’s document, published on April 16, 2024, recognises the “limited availability” of dental vans and the workforce to man them. It asks third parties to explore “other options such as (but not limited to), the provision of non-van solutions, including the use of local facilities for pop-up services.”

The document states, “We are keen to think creatively on how we can best support this target population.”

The professional body has criticised policies such as dental vans. The BDA says dental vans are ideally suited for treating high-needs populations like the homeless. However, the association says the scheme appears to be geared towards giving MPs lines to talk to on the doorstep.