Wes Streeting comments on the 17% increase in the number of children going to hospital to have rotting teeth pulled out

Wes Streeting MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on NHS statistics showing a 17% increase in the number of children going to hospital to have rotting teeth pulled out, said:

“Tens of thousands of children were forced to hospital with rotting teeth last year, and the problem is getting worse.

“Not only is this harming children‘s start to life, it’s costing the NHS through the nose.

“The NHS asked for supervised toothbrushing for 3-5 year-olds, but Conservative Ministers put ideology over children’s health and blocked it.

“Labour will give every child a healthy start to life, delivering supervised toothbrushing for 3-5 year-olds, because prevention is better than cure.”

Ends

Notes

Government figures published today reveal a 17% increase in decay-related tooth extractions for children in hospital, costing £64 million last year alone.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hospital-tooth-extractions-in-0-to-19-year-olds-2023/hospital-tooth-extractions-in-0-to-19-year-olds-short-statistical-commentary-2023