McGimpsey announces £17million investment in Health Service dentists

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today announced 38 additional dentists to resolve access difficulties to health service dentistry across Northern Ireland.

The Minister has awarded a new £17million contract to Oasis Dental Care Ltd who will provide the additional dentists in access ‘hotspots’ across Northern Ireland. The contract will run for three years with the option of extension for a further two.

Additional dentists will be located in the following former Board areas:

• Western Enniskillen, Omagh, Strabane and Londonderry
• Northern Carrickfergus, Newtownabbey and Cookstown
• Eastern Bangor/Donaghadee, Holywood, Dundonald/Castlereagh, Lisburn/Dunmurry and Carryduff
• Southern Banbridge, Dungannon and Newry

It is hoped that the first of these additional dentists will be in place before the end of this year and will be introduced in order of need. All 38 dentists will be in place within 12 months of the initial practice opening.

Making the announcement, Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey said: “I know that access to health service dentistry has been a matter of concern for many people across Northern Ireland. I am pleased that today I can announce a new contract that will provide access for an additional 57,000 health service patients.

“Oasis Dental Care Ltd will provide 38 dentists, targeted in access ‘hotspot’ areas across Northern Ireland ensuring people can get the health service dental treatment they need. Oasis has extensive expertise and experience in providing dental services to health Trusts across the United Kingdom and the standards they have set are impressive."

Justin Ash, Chief Executive of Oasis Dental Care, said: ‘We are delighted to have been chosen to be part of this significant boost to the health of the people of Northern Ireland and are delighted to be working in partnership with the Health Minister and the Health and Social Care Board. This contract is another resounding endorsement of Oasis Dental Care and our ability to deliver excellent health service dentistry. Plans are already well advanced for the new Oasis practices and we look forward to welcoming new patients from across the province later this year. We will ensure that we keep local communities informed of the progress of the building work and when they will be able to register for treatment.”

The Minister concluded: “My officials are working closely with the British Dental Association to achieve a new dental contract for all health service dentists in Northern Ireland, and I look forward to a successful conclusion to this process. However, there are access problems now that I have to address, and I am delighted that Oasis will work with us on this.

“I am confident that this initiative will greatly ease the current access problems, but my officials will continue to monitor the situation, and we shall take further action as is necessary to ensure that the general public have access to a health service dentist.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Minister approved the issuing of a new dental tender for the provision of 38 dentists in April 2008. The tender underwent public consultation from July 2008 until October 2008 and was open to all qualifying bodies.

2. The 38 dentists will be located as follows:

(Former) Location Anticipated number

Board Area of dentists per location

Western Enniskillen 6
Omagh 2
Strabane 2
Londonderry 4
Northern Carrickfergus 2
Newtownabbey 4
Cookstown 2
Eastern Bangor / Donaghadee 2
Holywood 2
Dundonald / Castlereagh 2
Lisburn / Dunmurry 2
Carryduff 2
Southern Banbridge 2
Dungannon 2
Newry 2

TOTAL 38

3. Oasis Dental Care Ltd owns and operates 170 dental practices throughout England and Wales, providing a combination of NHS and private dental care.

4. Since taking up post, the Minister has implemented a range of measures to address the access problem, including the significant investment of an extra £8million in health service dentistry to help address dentists’ concerns about overhead costs, training positions and recruitment.

5. The new dental contract (currently under negotiation with the British Dental Association) will enable commissioners to ensure adequate numbers of dentists to meet the needs of their local population and to retain control over where health service dentists locate. This new contract will also have a strong emphasis on preventive care, which is very important as we need to improve the oral health of our population, especially among young children. Negotiations have been ongoing since November 2006 and it is hoped that the new contract will be piloted later this year.

6. The Department’s Primary Dental Care Strategy, published in November 2006, aims to take account of the recommendations detailed in the Department’s Oral Health Strategy, ensure local commissioning of services, target prevention of disease, and ensure access to dental care for all. The Primary Dental Care Strategy can be viewed online:

7. Media enquiries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0575 or out of hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.