Jenny Randerson AM commenting on survey showing poor provision of dental care for elderly people.

2.48.00pm GMT Mon 10th Nov 2008

Jenny Randerson wants more dentists for all

Commenting on a Cardiff University survey which shows poor provision of dental care for elderly people, Jenny Randerson, Welsh Lib Dem Health spokesperson said:

"I welcome this first ever survey looking into nursing and residential home oral health because it reveals that there are various areas of weaknesses in dental provision for our most vulnerable and frail older population.

"The report reveals that many residential and nursing homes in various LHBs across Wales have difficulty in accessing both routine and emergency dental care, a basic service that is supposed to be provided by the NHS.

"Older people in the 21st century are living longer and retaining more teeth than ever before which means that there is a greater demand on our dental service.

"For too long now, the dental services in Wales have been at crisis point and today's report underlines that the new dental contract is failing to provide services for older people.

"Parts of Wales were performing poorly in terms of arrangements for the provision of dental care for elderly people in care homes and I will press the Health Minister to make sure that older people across all parts of Wales receive a decent standard of dental care.

"The results of the survey I conducted three years ago into dental services revealed a lack of availability in community dental service. Consequently, our 2007 election manifesto promised greater provision of Community Dental Service to provide oral care for young children in nurseries to older people in care homes.

"Labour's new dental contract has not solved the problem of the shortage of NHS dental services in Wales and today's report proves that all who are supposed to benefit from NHS dental service are not getting the treatment they deserve."

NOTE:

Cardiff University Report:

Nursing and Residential Care Home Oral Health Policy and Access to Dental Care Survey 2006-2007.

http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/dentl/resources/cmds08withcover.pdf

Headline Figures:

Managers reported they experienced difficulties in arranging routine dental care (40%/382) and emergency care (30%/290).

This varied locally, 13% of Merthyr managers had difficulties accessing routine care compared with 78% in Wrexham

Information recorded in written care plans included whether a resident on admission had an existing dentist (56%/532), wanted a dental appointment arranged (43%/413) or had a dental problem (53%/505).

88% (844) of managers reported that residents routinely required assistance in cleaning teeth/dentures, only 56% (534) believed home staff had received appropriate training.

28% (272) of managers reported that menus assumed residents had dentures or trouble chewing food.