Norfolk MPs enter talks about UEA dentistry school

Wes Streeting, secretary of state for health and social care, has committed to launching discussions into the future of the project, which is designed to train more people to work locally in the profession. 

The university is keen to open such a facility and supporters hope it would help end the 'dental desert' which has left people in the county unable to get NHS treatment.

Mr Streeting said: "It's appalling that Norfolk and Waveney are so poorly served in terms of dentistry - it is the Sahara of dental deserts.

"I'm aware of the advocacy for the University of East Anglia's proposal and would be delighted to meet with Norfolk's MPs and my colleagues to discuss this."

Norwich North MP Alice Macdonald addressed Mr Streeting to request he enters talks about the new school (Image: UK Parliament)

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The Norfolk and Waveney area has the largest ratio of NHS dentists for patients, with one for every 2,776 people, and some of the highest rates of dental problems.

Last year, more than 1,000 people had to attend Norfolk's A&E departments for dental care because their health issues were so serious.

Despite the scale of the crisis, a recent analysis showed that a total of £17m - more than a quarter of Norfolk and Waveney's allocated NHS dental funding - is not being used this year.

Officials say this is partly because there are simply no dentists available to do the work required.

Professor David Maguire, Vice Chancellor of the UEA, said: "We have worked closely with Norfolk's MPs to engage the government in our proposal to train dentists and dental therapists.

"We know this is a vital issue for the people of Norfolk and we look forward to welcoming Wes Streeting to the UEA to discuss or proposal at the earliest opportunity."