Member of Parliament Highlights NHS Dentist Shortage in Westminster

An MP representing Devon has called for “urgent action” to address the scarcity of NHS dentists across south-west England. Richard Foord, the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Honiton and Sidmouth, stated that NHS dental care in rural regions was “more of a myth than a reality,” noting that in Devon specifically, no dentists were presently accepting new adult NHS patients. Mr. Foord is scheduled to lead a parliamentary debate concerning this matter in Westminster on Tuesday. The Department for Health indicated that the process of “rebuilding NHS dentistry” would require a considerable duration. According to Foord, residents of Devon are confronted with the options of either traveling for extended periods to locate a dentist, incurring costs for private treatment, or, in some instances, attempting to resolve their dental issues independently. The MP highlighted that while 55% of adults in Devon had access to a dentist in 2015, this proportion has since decreased to slightly over 37%. A BBC investigation conducted in 2022 revealed that the south-west of England ranked among the most challenging regions for individuals seeking to access an NHS dentist. Earlier in the current year, a woman in her 70s residing in Devon reported having extracted three of her own teeth due to an inability to secure an NHS dentist appointment and the unaffordability of private care. Jenna Murgatroyd, who operates a dental practice in St Agnes, Cornwall, informed the BBC prior to the general election that practices such as hers were “hanging on by a thread.” A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care commented: “Rebuilding NHS dentistry is a priority for this government, but it will take time to construct an NHS dental sector that is fit for the future.” The spokesperson added: “We will start with an extra 700,000 urgent dentistry appointments to help those who need it most, and we will also reform the dental contract to encourage more dentists to offer NHS services to patients.” The BBC invites individuals to share their experiences regarding finding an NHS dentist in Devon by contacting spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Updates from BBC Devon are available on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.