'Toothpaste ice cream' for dental school campaign
University of LincolnA university is handing out "toothpaste-inspired ice cream" to highlight its funding campaign for a dental school.
The University of Lincoln claims that parts of the county are "dental deserts" with patients struggling to find an NHS dentist.
A specially painted ice cream van will visit local seaside resorts and the Lincolnshire Show, before heading to Westminster to lobby the government supported by local leaders and MPs.
Recent government figures show that 38% of people can access an NHS dentist in Lincolnshire, compared with the national mean average of 39.8%.
The "Strong Roots" campaign is gathering signatures and surveying the public about access to dental care.
According to the university, "Research shows healthcare professionals tend to work where they train, often in the places they grew up."
Professor Jamie Read, dean of the Lincoln Medical School, said establishing a dental school could "create a long-term pipeline of dental professionals for the future".
"The Dental Desserts Tour is a light-hearted way of opening up a very serious conversation," he said.
"Lincolnshire was the first area in the country deemed to be a 'dental desert'. This has been the case for too long and too many people across our rural and coastal communities are struggling to access NHS dental care."
Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, and watch the latest episode of Look North.
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