An investigation into NHS dentistry in Ealing by Alastair Mitton, the prospective Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Ealing Central and Acton has found that just 11% of dentists in the area are accepting new NHS patients.
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, Mr Mitton, who will be challenging current MP Dr Rupa Huq for the House of Commons seat at the next election, said more needs to be done to improve services to improve services and see more dentists working for the NHS.
Mr Mitton said for many people they have to go without treatment and face “enduring unbelievable agony”.
Of the 39 practices contacted by Mr Mitton, 25 were private, 14 NHS and only five (11%) were accepting new NHS patients.
Mr Mitton said: “This local research, which involved calling every dental practice in the constituency and on the borders proves that we urgently need to increase funding to the sector and to reform the NHS dental contract to ensure that it encourages dentists to take on new NHS patients. Liberal Democrats say we also need to urgently increase the number of dentist training places and continue to recognise EU trained dentists’ qualifications.”
He added: “Everyone should be able to access an NHS dentist when they need one, no one should be forced to face an impossible choice between paying hundreds of pounds for private care or going without treatment and enduring unbelievable agony. This Conservative government has utterly failed to get on top of the problem despite an estimated 3,000 dentists stopping NHS work in the last 3 years.”
