The Government has officially responded to CLAPA’s Dental Campaign petition – acknowledging the challenges we raised but not addressing our specific issues around cleft.
Our ‘End the Cleft Dental Crisis’ petition was delivered to 10 Downing Street, with more than 4,000 signatures from across the community.
CLAPA’s campaign is calling for guaranteed access to NHS dental care for everyone born with a cleft, following evidence that many people in the cleft community struggle to access routine dental services despite having lifelong clinical needs. It doesn’t address the specific barriers faced by people born with a cleft, including our concerns around dental training and clinician confidence, our calls for greater transparency, and monitoring of outcomes.
Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister from the Department of Health and Social Care, wrote back to us on behalf of the Government.
While the response sets out how cleft dental care should operate in principle, it does not address evidence gathered by CLAPA showing that many people born with a cleft continue to face significant barriers when trying to access NHS dental treatment.
The letter was addressed to CLAPA’s Policy and Campaigns Manager, Lachlan Bruce, who is leading the dental campaign.
Lachlan said: “This letter acknowledges the issue and references our survey, but it largely sets out how the system is supposed to work and, in some areas, not entirely accurately, rather than addressing the reality being experienced by the cleft community.
“It doesn’t address the specific barriers faced by people born with a cleft, including our concerns around dental training and clinician confidence, our calls for greater transparency, and monitoring of outcomes.”
The letter – which you can read by clicking the blue button below – outlines current cleft care principles and practise, and highlights action the Government is taking to implement “significant steps” to improve access to dentistry for everyone, including increased appointments and contract changes.
While good news for improved NHS dentistry, Lachlan said the letter doesn’t commit to CLAPA’s demands to improve access to routine NHS dental care for people born with a cleft or set out any specific action for people affected by cleft.
While the Government has not committed to policy change, the campaign has made tangible progress with many public bodies involved in dental care.
Although the letter is disappointing, CLAPA’s dental campaign is still successfully engaging with NHS England, professional bodies, and other dental stakeholders to help secure the reforms we’re calling for.
Lachlan added: “While the Government has not committed to policy change, the campaign has already made tangible progress with many public bodies involved in dental care.
“This Government response reinforces why the campaign remains necessary – and why we’ll continue to work on this issue while our concerns remain unresolved.
“Our community needs action to ensure they can access dental care.”
You can read the full response from UK Government to Dental Petition here