NHS dental services ‘in a vicious spiral’, says MP
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An MP is calling for urgent action amidst the growing waiting list for NHS dental care.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday (19 October), MP Yvette Cooper lay out the realities of NHS dentistry and the challenges now faced by dentists and patients across the UK.
‘NHS dentistry is facing a total capacity crisis,’ she said.
‘There is a huge backlog of urgent care and treatment and that’s leaving many dentists overwhelmed.
‘Patients, including those in Pontefract and towns right across the country are now unable to get routine check ups.
‘That is making the urgent care crisis worse and creating a vicious spiral.’
‘Huge capacity crisis’
She added: ‘Will the Health Secretary ask his ministers to meet with dental groups and patient groups in Yorkshire to hear about the urgent crisis they are facing and set out an urgent plan to deal with the huge capacity crisis in NHS dentistry?’
In response, Health Secretary Sajid Javid praised the job dentists have done during the pandemic.
He also pointed out that a review has been taken on infection protection control. He described the measures as a ‘major cause’ of the backlog.
NHS access troubles have been particularly highlighted in Yorkshire, an area represented by Yvette Cooper in the constituency of Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford.
Accountable
For example, another MP explained the alarming lack of NHS dentistry in North Yorkshire.
Kevin Hollinrake MP for Thirsk and Malton, called for a solution to the access problems.
He said: ‘We are in a difficult situation across North Yorkshire where there is no NHS dentist availability across the whole of Thirsk and Malton.’
The BDA praised the efforts of Cooper in Parliament, thanking her for holding ministers to account on NHS dentistry.
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