Labour 'destroying NHS dentistry'

NHS-Dentist Shortage is National Crisis

26.11.04

Government claims that the crisis in NHS dentistry is being solved is a kick in the teeth for people across the country who cannot get registered at their local NHS dentist surgery, Kingston and Surbiton's Liberal Democrat MP Edward Davey said today.

A new report from the independent National Audit Office revealed that proposed Government reforms of NHS dentists carry 'significant risks' and could even fail to ensure access for patients. This news comes the week after Edward Davey wrote to Kingston Primary Care Trust demanding answers regarding press reports of an NHS dentist crisis in Chessington. Bridge Road Dental Practice in Hook will no longer treat registered NHS patients as of February 2005, and the Elm Dental Practice is considering following suit, leaving just one NHS dentist practice to serve the whole of Chessington.

Edward Davey MP commented,

'The new NHS dentist contract is just another piece of New Labour spin. It holds no guarantee that dentists will come rushing back to the NHS. In fact, the reverse is happening. Labour promised to reverse the Conservative cuts to NHS dentistry. In practice, Labour is even worse than the Tories.

'Ministers need to keep dentists informed and engaged over the new contract, to ensure that it does not make matters worse. There is a real risk that local health trusts will not have the experience to deliver dentistry services, and Ministers need to urgently ensure that these trusts have support to provide better access to NHS dentistry.

'This shows what a sham this Government's concept of 'patient choice' is. The choice here is to go private or not to go at all!

'My colleague Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson and MP for Sutton and Cheam, said this week, "finding an NHS dentist is like trying to find a needle in a haystack." I am inclined to agree with him. It's time Labour delivered in their promises.'

Sign the petition for more dental staff on the Kingston Borough Liberal Democrat Website.