Amanda Martin MP has welcomed the Government’s announcement that the University of Portsmouth’s new dental school has secured half of all additional dental training places being created nationally as part of the first major expansion of dental school places in nearly 20 years.
Backed by £11 million in Government funding, the expansion will see additional dentists trained across England from 2027 onwards, with Portsmouth chosen as one of only two institutions to deliver the new places. The allocation means the University of Portsmouth will receive half of all new training places, helping to address long-standing shortages in NHS dental provision across Portsmouth and the wider region.
The announcement follows a visit by Amanda Martin MP and Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan to the University of Portsmouth with Health Minister Stephen Kinnock MP, where they discussed the impact local dental training will have on improving access to NHS dentistry.
Amanda Martin MP said: “Portsmouth has been a dental desert for far too long, which is why today’s announcement is such fantastic news.
“Stephen Morgan MP and I have worked hard to make the case to ministers that Portsmouth should be at the front of the queue for these new training places, and I’m delighted that effort has paid off.
“This is a huge vote of confidence in our city and in the University of Portsmouth. It recognises the strength of the university and its ability to train the next generation of dentists in an area where access to NHS dental care has been a challenge for far too many people.
“Over time, these new training places will help improve access to NHS dentistry, boost our local economy and ensure more dentists are trained and retained in our region.
“It was brilliant to welcome Health Minister Stephen Kinnock to Portsmouth and show him first-hand what our university has to offer. Today’s announcement is a great day for Portsmouth.”
The additional places form part of the Government’s wider plan to rebuild NHS dentistry and increase the number of home-grown dentists, particularly in areas where patients have struggled to access NHS care.
The Office for Students was asked to prioritise areas that do not currently train dentists, including coastal communities such as Portsmouth, where access to NHS dental appointments has long been a concern for local residents.
The new dental school will help ensure that future NHS dentists are trained within the communities they will serve, increasing the likelihood that they remain in the area after qualifying and strengthening the local dental workforce for years to come.
The announcement is part of a broader programme of reforms to NHS dentistry, including increasing opportunities for overseas-trained dentists to join the workforce, expanding urgent dental appointments, and reforming the NHS dental contract to improve access for patients and make NHS work more attractive for dentists.
Amanda Martin MP added: “For too many years local people have struggled to find an NHS dentist. This investment won’t solve every challenge overnight, but it is a significant step forward and demonstrates this Government’s commitment to rebuilding NHS dentistry and improving healthcare for communities like Portsmouth.
“I will continue working with colleagues, local health providers and the University of Portsmouth to ensure local residents feel the benefits of these changes and can access the care they deserve.”
