Written Assembly Questions tabled on 29 May 2015 for answer on 5 June 2015

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W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

(Self identifying Question no. shown in brackets)

Written Questions must be tabled at least five working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

William Powell (Mid and West Wales): What is the Welsh Government doing to improve patient access to NHS dentists, particularly for those who are elderly or with limited mobility? (WAQ68727)

Answer received 9 June 2015

Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): The latest published data show 1.689m people regularly accessed NHS primary care dentistry in Wales to December 31, 2014 – some 39,000 more than in 2011.

The community dental service, which cares for vulnerable people with complex needs who are unable to be treated by general dental services, saw 68,747 people in 2013-14, an increase of almost 1,400  from 2012-13.

The National Oral Health Plan outlines our Programme for Government commitments to improve oral health and reduce oral health inequalities, including ensuring vulnerable patients can access care from the right service.

http://gov.wales/topics/health/cmo/professionals/dental/oral-plan/?lang=en

In February, a Welsh Health Circular was published to improve the oral health of older people living in care homes. The Welsh Government has invested an extra £250,000 a year in the community dental service to support care homes to improve the day-to-day oral hygiene of their residents.