Local MP slams "government complacency" over nhs dentistry

Local Lib Dem MP David Laws today asked the Minister for Health at Health Questions why no one in Yeovil constituency is able to register with a dentist, in spite of the Prime Minister’s pledge in 1999, at the Labour Party conference, that by September 2001 everyone would have access to an NHS dentist.

David Laws said:

“ I was extremely disappointed by the Minister ‘s pathetic reply to my question as to why there are no NHS dentists in our area taking on new adult patients. I am particularly disturbed by the fact that the Minister clearly did not care that this meant that a key pledge made by the Prime Minister in 1999 has been broken.

“The Prime Minister promised that everyone would be able to receive proper dental treatment by September 2001. The Government is either unable or unwilling to understand that this means being registered with a dentist, having regular checkups, and then receiving treatment if necessary. Because the Government is too to scared to admit that it has failed to achieve this aim, it is now trying to argue that adequate dental care is being able to visit a “dental treatment centre”, or being told over a telephone that the nearest dentist is 20 miles away!

“This attitude shows breathtaking complacency. Instead of recognising that a problem exists and then looking into ways to alleviate it, the Government is now sticking its head in the sand. I will not allow Ministers to dodge this issue and will redouble my efforts to improve NHS dentistry in our area.”

Category: MP Press Releases