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Responding to the publication of new clinical standards for oral health and dental care for children and young people, Professor Martyn Cobourne, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), said: “With tooth decay the leading cause of hospital admissions among 5–9-year-olds in the UK, and wide variation in decay-related extractions across the country, it is right to see a renewed focus on prevention and improving access to dental healthcare for children."

Surgeons have welcomed the Welsh Government’s prioritisation of surgical hub expansion, as the latest NHS Wales waiting times figures underline that maintaining sustained reductions will depend on expanding surgical capacity. The number of patient pathways waiting two years or more for consultant-led hospital treatment rose from 2,589 in March to 3,694 in April.

With data published today showing that NHS waiting lists have risen again, the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) has said the latest figures make clear just how fragile recent progress is, and that there is still a significant journey ahead before patients see the timely care they deserve.