Labour has [TODAY] vowed to introduce a dentistry rescue plan so
patients can get an NHS dentist again. Labour is promising to
take immediate action to provide care for those in most urgent
need, and long-term reform to restore NHS dentistry to all who
need it.
Leading dental experts have issued responses to Labour’s plans:
Shawn Charlwood, Chair of the British Dental
Association’s General Dental Practice
Committee, said:
“We’re seeing patients in pain reach for pliers because of
choices made in Westminster. These access problems are not
inevitable, and giving dentists the time and the resources will
make a real difference.
“Labour has recognised the scale of this crisis. NHS dentistry is
hanging by a thread, and every party has a moral responsibility
to set out a plan.”
Claire Stevens CBE, Spokesperson for the British Society
of Paediatric Dentistry,said:
“Every child and young person deserves what we call a ‘dental
home’ – a local NHS dentist available to them from infancy.
“We know that a preventative approach not only works, but
importantly also delivers a proven return on investment,
particularly when interventions are targeted at the most
vulnerable children, that’s why we welcome this serious plan from
Labour. Early good oral health habits will set a child on the
path to a healthy mouth for a lifetime.”
Chris Groombridge, Chair of Teeth Team, said:
“As a charity dedicated to providing dental education in schools,
we all too often see tooth decay which is largely preventable.
Access to a dentist, alongside supervised toothbrushing are
essential interventions if we are to protect kids’ teeth.
“The government has had 13 years to address the failed NHS
contract and it has failed to act. Labour offers NHS dentistry a
future, which in too many areas is perilously close to being lost
to many who desperately need NHS dental care.”
Ben Atkins, a Manchester-based dentist and spokesperson
for the Oral Health Foundation, said:
“Amidst the dire state of NHS dentistry, countless individuals
are left unable to secure appointments and access essential care.
An urgent rescue plan is imperative to safeguard the future of
NHS dentistry and ensure timely access to vital oral healthcare
for all.
“Access to NHS dentistry is a basic right. It's disheartening to
witness the decline. Everyone in need should have the assurance
that the care they deserve is accessible without a struggle. This
requires both commitment and compassion at governmental level.”
