Jersey must brush up on dental standards

Wednesday 05 August 2015

A review of dental services and benefits has advised the States to develop stronger governance processes, health information, and to develop a sustainable oral health strategy.

During the 2014 Review of Dental Services and Benefits, by Oral Care Consulting, a team of specialist dental advisors, conducted a strategic review of services across the island. They examined States’ data and met with local dentists and stakeholders to offer an independent review of the challenges facing Jersey and steps to improve.

Up to £1 million pounds a year is spent supporting and delivering primary care dentistry, helping low income families and people over the age of 65. During 2014, 2,386 pensioners were members of the scheme which paid out a total of £239,400, of which 40% was for dental care.

Social Security Minister, Deputy Susie Pinel, said: “The report offers clear advice on what we can do to make improvements and I am aware that, with our ageing population, we need to be able to adapt to meet future needs. We have already made a start by asking Islanders in the Jersey Annual Social Survey about their oral health and we have identified ways to improve how we manage our current benefits.

“I have also put forward plans to increase our funding of the 65+ Healthcare Scheme which supports low income pensioners with dental costs. If these plans are approved in October, we will be able to extend the scheme during 2016. ”

A new working group will be formed to manage the initiatives identified in this report and to improve services. The initiatives include: Workforce Development, Governance and Public Health Education. This working group will also create an oral health strategy for the Island.

The Minister for Health and Social Services, Senator Andrew Green, said: “Health and Social Services and Social Security have worked together to commission these two independent reviews which offer Jersey a benchmark. We will continue to work together to find ways to put these recommendations into practice and build on this work, which will be developed as part of the wider primary care review.”