The United Kingdom faces a shortage of dental professionals in the country. In addition, the current economic situation of the National Health Service (NHS), aggravated as a result of the pandemic, has led to a drastic cut in dental care, causing waiting lists of more than 12 months for public clinical care. With this situation, the spanish company Lura Care, which provides home dentistry services for the elderly and people with functional diversity, entered the British market with numerous challenges.
In an interview with Dentalia, Xavier ComasChief Operations Officer of Lura Care Global and Managing Director in the United Kingdom, recognizes that “one of the main challenges has been obtaining the accreditation for the provision of health services”, which the company obtained after six months of rigorous processes. Another important challenge was gaining recognition in a sector where they were unknown. “The excellent work of our team has allowed us to make ourselves known and value our proposal,” says Comas.
He innovative mobile services model of the company has been well received by British residences. “We serve dependent people or people with mobility problems directly in their residences,” explains Comas. This has allowed us to serve more than 500 patients in just seven monthswith plans to triple this figure by the end of 2024. “Our goal is open new operating centers in cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle from 2025,” he acknowledges.
“The needs of the elderly population are the same throughout Europe, aggravated by increased longevity”
“The main reason that led us to expand our services at an international level is that we detect that the needs of the elderly population are the same throughout Europeand that this population is going to be increasingly numerous due to increased longevity,” explains Comas. It indicates that 91 out of every 100 elderly residents do not have an optimal quality of life due to their poor oral condition, and that therefore we are faced with an unmet need.
Make a comparative Regarding the prevalence of oral conditions among older adults in the United Kingdom and Spain, it is difficult, taking into account the sample of people treated in British territory. In Spain, “More than 90% of institutionalized seniors present periodontal pathologies or cavities”, according to Comas. In the UK, the NHS estimates that more than half of adults in care homes suffer from cavities, and around 50% have some degree of periodontal disease.
He also points out that among Spanish patients “the 50% require prosthodontic action60% need adjustments or replacement of prostheses, and the average is more than 5 years since the last dental check-up”, a situation that suggests that it may be similar in the United Kingdom.
“Prevention measures, such as regular brushing or proper cleaning of dental prostheses, are a key factor in preserving the health, well-being and quality of life of residents”
“Among the geriatric residential population it is common to find oral hygiene deficitsand this is common in Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom. The reason is that many of these people suffer cognitive impairments or mobility problemswhich condition both the understanding and maintenance of the regular hygiene habits necessary to preserve optimal oral health,” explains Comas. For this reason, Lura Care offers free training days on oral hygiene in the centers with which it collaborates, aimed at both residents and nursing home staff and caregivers: “Our experience shows us that measures aimed at preventionsuch as regular brushing or proper cleaning of dentures, are a key factor to preserve the health, well-being and quality of life of residents.”
UNEQUAL ACCESS TO DENTAL SERVICES
In it United Kingdomunlike Spain, the dental care is covered by the NHSthrough a co-payment system with 3 bands of £26.80, £73.50 and £319.10 depending on the type of treatment to be performed. The service is provided mainly by private centers with agreements with the Public Administration to serve people in their area of influence, and in accordance with the assignment of a limited number of UDAs (Units of Dental Activity).
“Private dental care It is practically inaccessible for most families with a medium or low socioeconomic leveldue to their prices. Public coverage solved this difference, but currently the differences have worsened substantially”, explains Comas, who exemplifies: A dental treatment with extractions and a new acrylic prosthesis would cost the user £319.10 if it is covered by the NHS, while the price in private clinics would rarely fall below £2,000. “In the case of the patients in geriatric homesbliss public coverage is practically non-existentwhich highlights the need for companies like Lura Care to serve this population directly in their place of residence,” says Comas.
“Attracting talent is one of the great present and future challenges we face”
The lack of dentists in the UK represents an additional challenge for the Spanish company. At the launch, he acknowledges, “we have been very lucky to have two great Spanish professionals based there, Telmo Iceta and Cristina Daguerre, who have a long and successful career as dentists in the United Kingdom, and who for their social vocation “They have also joined the project.”
But they are aware that “the cTalent recruitment is one of the great challenges of present and future that we face. And for this reason they claim the need to streamline immigration processes to facilitate the transfer of talent from Spainwhere we have great professionals who they would be of great help to be able to meet the demand for oral health services in the United Kingdom,” he concludes.
* **How does the expansion of Lura Care into the UK address the ethical concerns surrounding healthcare access and equity for vulnerable populations, specifically the elderly with limited mobility?**
## Interview: Bridging the Dental Divide - Lura Care’s Expansion into the UK
**Introduction**
Welcome to World Today News’ discussion on the growing dental crisis in the UK and the innovative response from Spanish company, Lura Care. We’re joined today by **Xavier Comas**, Chief Operations Officer of Lura Care Global and Managing Director in the United Kingdom, and **Dr. [Name]**, a practicing dentist in the UK with expertise in geriatric care.
**Section 1: The UK Dental Crisis - A Closer Look**
* **Xavier:** You’ve highlighted the significant shortage of dental professionals and the rationing of care through lengthy waiting lists in the UK. What are the underlying factors driving this crisis, and how is it impacting the lives of everyday people?
* **Dr. [Name]:** Can you share your perspective on the ground level? How does this situation manifest in your daily practice? What are the biggest challenges you and your patients face in accessing adequate dental care?
**Section 2: Lura Care’s Solution – Addressing a Critical Need**
* **Xavier:** Lura Care’s mobile dentistry service aims to address a specific and often overlooked segment: dependent individuals and the elderly. How did you identify this unmet need, and what inspired you to bring this model to the UK?
* **Dr. [Name]:** What are your initial impressions of Lura Care’s services? How do you see this mobile approach contributing to the overall improvement of oral health in the elderly population?
**Section 3: Bridging International Healthcare Gaps**
* **Xavier**: The article mentions that the needs of the elderly population are the same throughout Europe. While Spain already has Lura Care, what observations have you made comparing the prevalence of oral health issues amongst the elderly in the UK versus Spain?
* **Dr. [Name]:** How do you see the UK healthcare system’s approach to dental care for the elderly compared to other European models? Are there any lessons that can be learned from countries like Spain?
**Section 4: Challenges and the Future of Oral Healthcare**
* **Xavier**: You mentioned the challenges of obtaining accreditation and building awareness in a new market. What other obstacles do you anticipate facing in your expansion within the UK?
* **Dr. [Name]:** Attracting and retaining talent is crucial for any healthcare service. What are your thoughts on the potential impact of Brexit and immigration policies on the future of dentistry in the UK?
**Section 5: Looking Ahead
* **Xavier & Dr. [Name]:** What are your hopes for the future of dental care in the UK, and how do you see Lura Care contributing to a solution that is both sustainable and accessible?
**Conclusion**
Thank you to both Xavier Comas and Dr. [Name] for providing us with such valuable insights into this critical issue. It’s clear that a multifaceted approach is necessary to address the dental crisis in the UK. As Lura Care continues its work, we hope its innovative model serves as a catalyst for improving access to oral healthcare for all.
