NHS Dentistry: Recovery and Reform

Richard Burgon Excerpts

Wednesday 7th February 2024 Commons Chamber

[Victoria Atkins]

Indeed, and it was a pleasure to meet my hon. Friend to discuss the issues facing his constituents. I hope he recognises that we will have those aims very much in mind in the delivery of the recovery plan. We will begin to see the roll-out of those 2.5 million more appointments in the coming weeks as the new patient premium takes hold.

[Richard Burgon (Leeds East) (Lab)]

Last month, Healthwatch Leeds submitted evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee—testimonies from people at the sharp end of the NHS crisis. One said:

“I am really struggling to find an NHS dentist that is accepting new patients at the moment. I am an apprentice and get paid minimum wage and cannot afford a private dentist.”

Others spoke of the way in which, according to Healthwatch Leeds,

“having no access to treatment is impacting on their general well-being and mental health.”

One of them said:

“ I just don’t know what to do, who to turn to, how to get help. I just want to be able to smile again”.

Is it not the case that this Government’s plan is too little too late, and that the queues snaking around dentists’ surgeries are testimony to the failure of 14 years of Conservative government and a deliberate undermining of our valuable public services?

[Victoria Atkins]

The hon. Gentleman has quoted Healthwatch. I presume that he will also be gracious enough to acknowledge that the move to introduce 15 dental vans has, in fact, been welcomed by Healthwatch.