NORWICH, UK: Plans for a new dental school in Norfolk have gained significant momentum with the approval of £1.5 million in funding from local authorities. The University of East Anglia (UEA) will establish the School of Oral Health at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (N&N), marking a critical step toward addressing the region's shortage of dental professionals.
Tackling the 'dental desert'
Norfolk has long been classified as a "dental desert," with East Anglia being the only region in England without a dedicated dental training school. A recent report highlighted that just 16% of NHS dental practices in Norwich are currently accepting new patients. The initiative aims to mitigate this issue by training local dentists, ultimately increasing the number of practitioners in the area.
Sue Holland, leader of Broadland District Council, emphasized the impact of this shortage:
“The lack of access to a dentist is a real concern for too many of our residents. Training dentists locally will provide much-needed resources for existing dental practices.”
Facility and funding details
The dental school will occupy the second floor of the Edith Cavell Building at N&N Hospital. The total project cost is estimated at £3 million, with UEA committing an additional £1.5 million from its budget for specialized equipment, including nine dental chairs and modern teaching facilities.
Initially, the school plans to admit 40 students per year, with a long-term goal of increasing this number to 65 students annually following further expansion.
Kay Mason Billig, leader of Norfolk County Council, expressed pride in advancing the initiative:
“This investment reflects our commitment to improving healthcare in Norfolk. It’s a significant step toward establishing a state-of-the-art dental training facility in the region.”
Mike Stonard, leader of Norwich City Council, reinforced the urgency of the project, stating:
“We have a severe shortage of dentists, especially NHS ones, and the nearest training facility is far from Norfolk. This initiative is crucial for our community.”
The university is now working with the General Dental Council (GDC) to complete the necessary registration process for launching undergraduate dental training. David Maguire, vice chancellor of UEA, hailed the project as a milestone for the university:
“This is an important step in our efforts to provide top-tier dental education, building on the success of our Norwich Medical School.”
