Debate contribution: HSC Dentistry: East Antrim
Debate contribution by Mr Robbie Butler on .
- MLA
- Mr Robbie Butler
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 12 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- HSC Dentistry: East Antrim
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5786274
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for his question. As with every challenge that I face in Health, it is really important that we establish the voice of the service user and of the clinicians who provide the service — in this case, our dentists. Therefore, engagement will be absolutely key. There will be early engagement with the dental profession and key stakeholders through the British Dental Association. Dentists will play an important role in developing reform proposals for general dental services. It is important that relevant stakeholders actively participate in that process to ensure the success of any reform. Following the publication of the report, the director of primary care attended a Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee meeting to discuss the report and next steps. Officials will continue to engage with the British Dental Association and other key stakeholders as the appraisal options progress. I had a meeting with my departmental officials on this last week. It is an issue in which I am acutely interested: I want to ensure that there is equity right across Northern Ireland, regardless of a person's circumstances.
182 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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