Latest news with #EdGarratt
ITV News
5 days ago
- Health
- ITV News
Suffolk health boss pledges to create 'oases in the dental deserts' - as campaigners stage demo
A health boss has pledged to create 'oases in the dental deserts' amid plans to spend tens of millions of pounds restoring access to NHS dentistry. The Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) plans to spend £76m over the next decade to expand dental services in five areas, including Leiston, Brandon, Bury St Edmunds and Tendring. Its Chief Executive Ed Garratt insists they are 'recovering' the situation, with tens of thousands of urgent appointments now available. "We are now delivering 60,000 appointments a year in Suffolk and north east Essex, so there's no need for DIY dentistry anymore locally, but we have inconsistent dental coverage across our patch," he said. "That will represent a £76 million investment over ten years for those communities, assuming the procurement is successful, we have budgeted for it. "We want to end dental deserts... we want to create oases in the desert. 'I think this is a national problem. We've taken up the mantle in recent years, and we are recovering the situation but there's been an issue with the dental contract and the retention and recruitment of dentists," he added. Mark Jones started the Toothless in Suffolk campaign four years ago, fed up with watching NHS dentists closing and rural communities left in pain. 'We've heard numerous stories of DIY dentistry where people have got a pair of pliers from the garden shed and extracted their own teeth," he said. "It's completely unacceptable. The stories are horrific, and they have long-term consequences. "Access to NHS dentistry continues to be a postcode lottery, out of reach for tens of thousands of men, women and children. They deserve better, much better," he added. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'This government inherited a broken NHS dental sector after years of neglect, but we are getting on with fixing it through our Plan for Change. 'We've already begun the rollout of 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments, and a 'golden hello' scheme is underway to recruit dentists to areas with most need – with hundreds of posts advertised. 'We will also reform the dental contract to make NHS work more appealing to dentists, and we've announced a national supervised toothbrushing programme to prevent tooth decay in young children.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Logical' to keep at-risk walk-in centre open
An NHS walk-in centre in Norfolk which faced being closed down or having its opening hours reduced in a bid to save as much as £1.5m a year will remain open for now. The facility in Norwich was one of three services NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) considered reviewing in a bid to save money. Changes to its out-of-hours GP service and Vulnerable Adults Service were also explored, with patients asked for their views as part of a consultation. Ed Garratt, interim chief executive of the ICB, said all proposals had been taken off the table and a U-turn at this stage made "logical sense". "The strategic direction of the ICB is to increase 'neighbourhood' level services and improve access to primary care," he added. He said the decision was in line with the government's 10-year national plan to shift resources from acute to community services, treatment to prevention and analogue to digital services. "It therefore makes logical sense to end this consultation and take stock of plans once the 10 Year Plan has been published," he said. The walk-in centre, at Rouen House, in Rouen Road, is used by about 72,000 people every year and previously faced closure in 2023 before a new contract was agreed. But in March, the ICB said it was once again reviewing its future as it faced a £280m gap in its budget. It said closing the service would free up £1.5m a year while opening only in the morning would save £750,000, with the money saved being put towards GP services. Sadie Parker, director of primary care for the ICB, said the government's drive to address the challenges facing the NHS had encouraged them to reconsider. She suggested the under-threat services could potentially play a key role in realising the government's goal of "developing a neighbourhood health service". "The situation has changed and we are expecting further national guidance on this which will help inform how we plan for and provide local health services," she said. The news of the U-turn has been welcomed by Norwich city councillor, Lucy Galvin, who sits on Norfolk's health overview and scrutiny committee. "This was a hard-fought campaign and I am so glad to see it has resulted in this complete change of heart," she said. "These services for the most vulnerable should never, ever have been under threat. "I have seen first hand the patients and professionals who have been deeply concerned over the past few years. Now we need to see stable, transparent funding for these vital services." Alex Stewart, chief executive of Healthwatch Norfolk, said he was "pleased" the services would continue to operate. "There was a concern the loss of the walk-in centre could have had a devastating impact on A&E units. "As of this morning we had received 3,540 responses to the consultation around the walk-in centre and GP out-of-hours service, and 207 around the vulnerable adults service," he said. "The overwhelming majority felt the walk-in centre was a vital care safety net for those who either struggled to get an appointment from their GP or felt their condition was not serious enough for them to attend accident and emergency. "We have no doubt today's decision will reassure the many people who responded to our survey." Ahead of announcing the walk-in centre would no longer be closed, the ICB had encouraged residents to attend drop-in sessions at King's Lynn Town Hall on Monday, The Forum in Norwich on Tuesday, Blyburgate Hall in Beccles on Wednesday and Lowestoft Community Hub on Thursday to share their views. These have now been cancelled. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. NHS walk-in centre faces closure or a cut in hours Walk-in centre firm had "inadequate management" City walk-in health centre under closure threat NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB)
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Norwich NHS walk-in centre to remain open after U-turn
An NHS walk-in centre in Norfolk which faced being closed down or having its opening hours reduced in a bid to save as much as £1.5m a year will remain open for facility in Norwich was one of three services NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) considered reviewing in a bid to save to its out-of-hours GP service and Vulnerable Adults Service were also explored, with patients asked for their views as part of a Garratt, interim chief executive of the ICB, said all proposals had been taken off the table and a U-turn at this stage made "logical sense". "The strategic direction of the ICB is to increase 'neighbourhood' level services and improve access to primary care," he said the decision was in line with the government's 10-year national plan to shift resources from acute to community services, treatment to prevention and analogue to digital services."It therefore makes logical sense to end this consultation and take stock of plans once the 10 Year Plan has been published," he said. The walk-in centre, at Rouen House, in Rouen Road, is used by about 72,000 people every year and previously faced closure in 2023 before a new contract was in March, the ICB said it was once again reviewing its future as it faced a £280m gap in its said closing the service would free up £1.5m a year while opening only in the morning would save £750,000, with the money saved being put towards GP services. 'Situation has changed' Sadie Parker, director of primary care for the ICB, said the government's drive to address the challenges facing the NHS had encouraged them to suggested the under-threat services could potentially play a key role in realising the government's goal of "developing a neighbourhood health service"."The situation has changed and we are expecting further national guidance on this which will help inform how we plan for and provide local health services," she said. The news of the U-turn has been welcomed by Norwich city councillor, Lucy Galvin, who sits on Norfolk's health overview and scrutiny committee."This was a hard-fought campaign and I am so glad to see it has resulted in this complete change of heart," she said. "These services for the most vulnerable should never, ever have been under threat. "I have seen first hand the patients and professionals who have been deeply concerned over the past few years. Now we need to see stable, transparent funding for these vital services." 'Safety net' Alex Stewart, chief executive of Healthwatch Norfolk, said he was "pleased" the services would continue to operate."There was a concern the loss of the walk-in centre could have had a devastating impact on A&E units. "As of this morning we had received 3,540 responses to the consultation around the walk-in centre and GP out-of-hours service, and 207 around the vulnerable adults service," he said."The overwhelming majority felt the walk-in centre was a vital care safety net for those who either struggled to get an appointment from their GP or felt their condition was not serious enough for them to attend accident and emergency. "We have no doubt today's decision will reassure the many people who responded to our survey."Ahead of announcing the walk-in centre would no longer be closed, the ICB had encouraged residents to attend drop-in sessions at King's Lynn Town Hall on Monday, The Forum in Norwich on Tuesday, Blyburgate Hall in Beccles on Wednesday and Lowestoft Community Hub on Thursday to share their have now been cancelled. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
