Local Access to NHS Dentists Falling

5.57.00pm GMT Mon 17th Jan 2005

The number of people in Sutton and Merton who are registered with an NHS dentist has fallen from 47.4% to 40.8% since 1997, Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow has revealed.

These new figures were revealed in a parliamentary answer to Mr Burstow, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary.

Paul Burstow MP commented:

"The Government is sitting idly by whilst NHS dental care becomes harder to find. It appears that the Government's solution to the crisis in NHS dentistry is just not working.

"With so few dentists accepting NHS patients it is little wonder that the levels of people registering with the NHS are so low. As NHS dental cover declines so too does dental health.

"The Government must get to grips with the crisis in dental care. Every patient deserves to be able to register with a local NHS dentist, not to have to journey miles and miles in search of service."