Adam Dance MP challenges Government on NHS dental care for people with cleft conditions in Yeovil

Adam Dance MP has stepped up his campaign for better access to NHS dental care in Yeovil after pressing Ministers on support for people living with cleft lip and palate.

In a Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health and Social Care, Adam asked what the Government is doing to improve access to NHS dentistry for people with cleft conditions in his constituency. The question follows ongoing concerns from families about the difficulty of securing consistent, local NHS dental care.

In response, Health Minister Stephen Kinnock MP acknowledged that people with cleft conditions are more vulnerable to oral health problems. He confirmed that NHS England commissions specialist cleft services through multi-disciplinary teams, with care starting before birth and continuing into adulthood. This pathway includes paediatric dentistry, restorative dentistry and orthodontics.

However, the Minister also made clear that access to everyday NHS dentistry is left to local Integrated Care Boards, with the Government relying on extra urgent appointments and recruitment schemes such as the so called “Golden Hello” payments to dentists.

Adam Dance MP said this response underlines the wider failure of the Government to fix NHS dentistry.

Adam said:

“People with cleft conditions need lifelong access to dental care, not warm words and responsibility being passed around the system. While specialist cleft services are vital, they are no substitute for reliable, local NHS dentistry that families can actually access.

The opening of the new NHS dental practice in Chard is very welcome and shows what can be achieved when action is taken. But one new practice is not enough. Families in Yeovil and across South Somerset are still struggling to find NHS dentists, including those with complex and ongoing needs.

This Government has allowed NHS dentistry to slide into crisis. Ministers continue to point to schemes and pilots, but they are not delivering the change patients need on the ground. Vulnerable people should not be left navigating a broken system.

The Liberal Democrats have been clear that NHS dentistry needs proper reform, fair funding and national leadership. I will keep championing better dental care for families in Yeovil and pushing the Government to go much further.”