Stephanie Dearden
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting
Tel: 020-7771-2551 or 07985649807
PRESS RELEASES
Wednesday, 9th November 2005
New Recruits Haven’t Solved NHS Dentistry Shambles
Targets to recruit extra dentists to the NHS in England and increase the
numbers training in dentistry have been more than met, says the government, with
a net increase of 1,100 extra full-time NHS dentists in the past year and an
increase in student numbers by 189. However, while the British Dental
Association welcomed the recruitment of extra dentists, they warned that
concerns over a new contract for NHS work means urgent steps are needed to keep
existing dentists within the NHS.
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting, Stephanie
Dearden said:-
The provision of NHS dentistry is a shambles. Millions
of people in this country are not registered with a dentist. People who can't
get a NHS dentist will wonder what planet is the government living on? The
danger is that many dentists will see the Government's new contract as the final
straw and leave the NHS. If these reforms fail, they could sound the death knell
for NHS dentistry.
ENDS
Stephanie Dearden
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting
Notes to editors