Ipswich people struggle to find NHS Dentists (Ipswich Liberal Democrats)

Ipswich Liberal Democrats <info@ipswichlibdems.org.uk>

Ipswich people struggle to find NHS Dentists

November 19, 2006 11:40 AM

Cllr. Andrew Cann "90% cannot find an NHS Dentist - it's a disgrace our kids can't get a Dentist".

Cllr. Andrew Cann and Liberal Democrats in Westgate Ward, Ipswich have conducted an area survey over several weeks of 1,000 homes in the Norwich Road / Bramford Road area.

Over 30% of respondents did not have a dentist and 90% couldn't find an NHS dentist.

This is only after 6 months of the new NHS Dentist contract which many predicted would force dentists to reject NHS care.

One family with 5 children did not have a dentist.

Whilst private dentistry is an option for those that can afford it the vulnerable inclusive of children are entitled to free NHS dental care. The problem is if there isn't a local dentist available then it's academic whether or not it's free or not. The Gov't has interfered with Dentistry as it has done with the rest of the NHS and the net result is that our kids are not getting dental care and yet Labour locally says that any problems in the NHS here are due to local problems whilst taking credit for anything that works. You cannot have your cake and eat it.