The government has asked five private dental surgeries to help reduce the number of children waiting for a first check up.

Smile Group, Colomberie Clinic and Dental Practice, The Dental Studio, Confidence Dental and Wellbeing and Windsor Crescent Dental Practice have been commissioned to see patients who had been waiting for an appointment with the hospital's community dental department.

It means more than 1,000 children aged between four and 11 years old can be seen at the private clinics free of charge.

It only applies to routine check-ups and doesn't cover emergency care.  Children need to have been on the waiting list as of 31 October 2022.

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic dental practices unable to treat patients, with only phone advice allowed and emergency care at the hospital as a last resort.

The restrictions created an even greater backlog.

The Health and Community Services scheme is being paid for from the government's the Covid-19 Recovery Fund.

It was piloted by the department earlier in the year and saw 200 patients opting in.

“By working with our colleagues in the private sector we are able to get on top of our waiting lists which have grown during the Covid pandemic.

This scheme is great news for our routine patients as it means that they are being seen in a timely manner so that they can keep on top of their oral health.”- Sarah Evans, General Manager for the Community Dental team.

The children who are seen by the private practices either remain under their care for subsequent treatment, or are discharged back into community care for a follow up appointment 6 or 12 months later, depending on need.

HCS is charged an 'agreed' amount by the private clinics for each appointment.

Health Minister Deputy Karen Wilson says she is pleased to see progress being made to cut waiting times for children:

"This is a great example of primary and secondary care working in partnership to deliver better services for children who have been affected by delays caused by the pandemic, and as a start of the turnaround for HCS."