PRESS RELEASE
21 November 2006

New government figures expose crisis in NHS dentistry across Fenland
Nearly 10,000 fewer adults have access to a NHS dentist under Labour

Worrying new figures released by the Government have revealed this week that across North East Cambridgeshire, there has been a fall of 9,778 men and women (i.e. –32% ), who have access to a NHS dentist since 1997. This contrasts with Tony Blair’s promise in 1999 that everyone would be guaranteed a NHS dentist within two years. Across England, almost 2 million fewer adults are now being treated by NHS dentists but across Cambridgeshire the situation is very patchy. As usual the Fens comes out worst. Some Constituencies had an increase in NHS Dental patients (Huntingdon an extra 891 patients; NW Cambridgeshire 3,332; and SE Cambridgeshire a whopping 13,313 extra patients). Compare this to Peterborough of a fall of 2,819 patients; South Cambridgeshire a fall of 6,470 patients and the fall of 9,778 in North East Cambridgeshire.

Why is it that the most deprived, least healthy and poorest constituency in Cambridgeshire has the largest number of patients denied access to NHS Dentists and forced to go private? What kind of a health service has Tony Blair presided over?

Malcolm Moss is demanding that the new Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust looks at this inequity as a matter of urgency. “It is quite despicable that yet again my Constituency is short changed. It seems that this Government has a philosophy that the less you have the less you get!”    

Unpopular contracts imposed by the Government are encouraging many dentists to quit the NHS and leave for the private sector, increasing the shortage of NHS dentists. In some parts of the country, Primary Care Trusts are preventing NHS dentists who switch to private practice from continuing to treat children for free on the NHS. Patients are also going private, or not taking treatment, since they are now facing higher NHS dental charges.

Malcolm Moss MP, said:

“Everyone in North East Cambridgeshire should be able to have a NHS dentist - yet the Government has clearly failed in its pledge to make NHS dentistry accessible to all. The disappointing situation in Fenland is being repeated across the country with almost 2 million fewer adults now having access to an NHS dentist than in 1997.

“The Labour Government’s latest moves have left many people paying more in NHS charges and are pushing more dentists to leave the NHS completely. Dentists have been run down and are voting with their feet by leaving the NHS. I fear this will force growing numbers of local residents to have to travel miles to see an NHS dentist, or to go private to receive the treatment they need.

“We must have a dental system that promotes good oral health and preventative work and which encourages dentists to stay working for the NHS. Conservatives value the NHS and will provide it with the support it needs to flourish.”