University secures £1.5m to tackle dental crisis

The University of Lincoln has been awarded £1.5 million in funding to launch a new initiative aimed at addressing Lincolnshire’s chronic shortage of dental professionals.

The investment, provided through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund by the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority, will fund the creation of the Lincolnshire Institute of Dental and Oral Health (LIDOH). The Institute will provide new educational opportunities for people across the region to train in dental hygiene and therapy without leaving the county.

Set to launch next year, LIDOH will offer a new BSc in Dental Hygiene and Therapy as well as a foundation course to help dental nurses and healthcare workers retrain or upskill. Existing university facilities will be transformed into specialist clinical teaching spaces equipped with state-of-the-art digital and simulation tools.

Lincolnshire has some of the worst access to NHS dental care in the UK, with many residents struggling to find local treatment. The University hopes LIDOH will help build a sustainable, local dental workforce and improve health outcomes in under-served communities.

Vice Chancellor Professor Neal Juster said: “We are delighted to have secured this grant funding, which marks the first step towards our ambition to establish a full dental school for Lincolnshire.”

Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns welcomed the funding and confirmed the Institute will train 30 students a year. “This is good news for residents as we work to grow our own talent and improve dental care across the county,” she said.

Dr Sunil Hindocha of NHS Lincolnshire ICB also backed the move, calling it a “significant step” toward improving dental recruitment and care in the region.