MPs call for more action to tackle dental crisis

All four Labour MPs representing Dorset have joined forces to urge the government to tackle the dental desert created in the county.

Jessica Toale (Bournemouth West), Lloyd Hatton (South Dorset), Neil Duncan-Jordan (Poole) and Tom Hayes (Bournemouth East) have written to health secretary Wes Streeting, outlining the extent of the dental crisis in Dorset.

The letter states that no dental practices in the county are accepting new patients at present, forcing people to travel to Southampton and Bristol for treatment or resort to DIY dentistry.

The MPs also state that nearly 60% of adults and 47% of children in Dorset have not seen an NHS dentist in the past year. In addition, the south west is currently the worst region for access to NHS dentists.

As a result, the MPs have pushed for urgent action to secure better access in the county. The letter states: ‘NHS dentistry provision in Dorset is urgently needed, and on behalf of the people of Dorset, we would ask you to provide a cast-iron commitment to improving provision in our area.’

The MPs have therefore requested to meet Streeting to discuss his plan for NHS dentistry, and invited him to meet with patients and dentists in Dorset first-hand to understand the extent of the crisis.

Toale said: ‘It really shouldn’t be impossible to access NHS dental care where you live, but for so many of my constituents, it is. The impact of this is significant, with children being admitted to hospital for dental issues that could’ve easily been prevented with access to NHS dental care.’

Urgent appointments rolled out

This comes as the government and NHS rolls out 700,000 extra urgent appointments, allowing thousands of patients across England to access emergency dental care.

Announced by health minister Stephen Kinnock, the move marks a commitment to a pledge made in the Labour manifesto last summer.

The Dorset Labour MPs welcome this announcement, with 13,569 of the 700,000 appointments being allocated to the county. However, they stress that this will not tackle the lack of access for ongoing NHS dental check-ups.

Duncan-Jordan said: ‘It’s great that the government is investing more into our NHS but we need to ensure ongoing dental care is not forgotten. Residents also need access to accurate up-to-date information about where is accepting new NHS patients, and should not have to be travelling to neighbouring counties for this.’

The letter also highlights the need to reform the NHS dental contract, asking the health secretary if the government is committed to making it more attractive for the industry. The MPs wrote: ‘The NHS dental contract is in urgent need of reform. The payment of dentists per ‘unit of dental activity’ rather than per person registered on a list of permanent patients has exacerbated the issue.

‘The contract means that a dentist has no long-term obligation to see patients on the NHS unless they are undergoing active treatment or dental work already carried out is under guarantee.’

It continues: ”It is a welcome step that the government is committed to reforming the NHS dental contract, making it more attractive for the industry. Would you be able to provide a time frame for when this reform will be in place?’

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