A seven-point plan to tackle the poor oral health of homeless people has been launched by the British Dental Association. Dental Care for Homeless People, published on the last day of The Big Issue Foundation's Vendor Health Week, calls for improvements that will give homeless people the chance to enjoy good dental health.

The report argues for a flexible dental service that responds to the particular needs of homeless people by employing a combination of surgery and outreach locations to deliver care. It also says that, wherever possible, the service should be delivered in a way that enables homeless people to use mainstream dental services. The report further calls for training and funding issues to be properly addressed so that all sectors of dentistry can play their part in delivering the dental care that homeless people need.

In readiness of the implementation of the Health and Social Care Bill in April 2005, Dental Care for Homeless People calls on Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England to take a realistic look at how general dental practitioners and the Community Dental Service will be involved in delivering care.

The report also says that PCTs should see through the promising work being done by the Personal Dental Services pilots by ensuring the continuation of ring-fenced funding.