There is increasing doubt surrounding plans for a new dentistry school at the UEA as MPs enter talks with government officials. 

The university is keen to open a facility and supporters hope it would help end the county's 'dental desert' which has left people unable to get NHS treatment.

However, as discussions get under way with the new government, Clive Lewis MP has admitted that the project is "not a done deal" and its future remains uncertain. 

Norwich South MP Clive LewisNorwich South MP Clive Lewis (Image: Antony Kelly)

The Norfolk and Waveney area has the worst ratio of NHS dentists to patients in the country, with just one for every 2,776 people. It also has some of the highest rates of dental problems.

Last year more than 1,000 people had to attend Norfolk's A&E departments because their dental issues were so serious.

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Despite the scale of the crisis, a recent analysis showed that a total of £17m - more than a quarter of Norfolk and Waveney's allocated NHS dental funding - is not being used this year.

Officials say this is partly because there are simply no dentists available to do the work required.

Supporters of the UEA scheme say this furthers their case and that the unspent funding could help get the school off the ground.

Five Norfolk MPs met to discuss plans for a new dental school at the UEA with Stephen Kinnock, minister of state for care, this week. 

Norfolk MPs met with Stephen Kinnock, minister of state for careNorfolk MPs met with Stephen Kinnock, minister of state for care (Image: Clive Lewis)

These were Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South, Alice Macdonald, MP for Norwich North, Jerome Mayhew, MP for Broadland and Fakenham, George Freeman, MP for Mid Norfolk and Steffan Aquarone, MP for North Norfolk.

Mr Lewis wrote on social media: "Local dental services are in crisis, partly due to a shortage of dentists.

"The new dental school at the UEA is not a done deal yet, and I'll continue to prioritise fixing local dentistry."

A UEA spokesman added: "We continue to make the case for undergraduate dental training in the East of England.

"We are grateful to the Norfolk MPs who represented UEA's interests at last week’s meeting and continue to work relentlessly with our regional partners on dental development activities, including post graduate training to tackle the oral health crisis in Norfolk and continue to be an important provider of health skills for our region."