NHS dental crisis in Meon Valley

10.48.24pm GMT Tue 27th Feb 2007

More than 50% of Whiteley residents are unable to register with an NHS dentist.

In a survey conducted in Whiteley between January 13th and February 24th 2007, Liz Leffman and the Liberal Democrats have learned that 51% of Whiteley residents are unable to register with an NHS dentist, either in Whiteley or in the surrounding area.

Whitely has one dentist registered with the NHS but the surgery is not accepting any new patients. Of the 25 NHS dentists on the Hampshire Primary Care Trust website that are reasonably close to Whiteley, only two were accepting new patients this week.

This bears out the findings of a survey recently conducted by the Bishop's Waltham and Meon Valley Citizen's Advice Bureau, which shows that 84% of people surveyed in the Meon Valley have lost their NHS dental provision in the past 10 years, and 55% of these have tried unsuccessfully to find a new NHS dentist.

"There has been a dramatic decline in NHS dental provision over the past ten years, and the new Government contracts have accelerated this to a point where being treated by the NHS is now the exception rather than the rule." said Liz Leffman, Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Meon Valley.

"Patients have little choice. They either have to pay for private treatment, or, if they are lucky enough to be accepted by an NHS dentist, they have to travel long distances for treatment. I have heard of one family in Whiteley that regularly travels to the Isle of Wight to have their children's teeth checked."

"I am asking Hampshire Primary Care Trust to review with urgency the provision of NHS dental care in Meon Valley."

Notes to Editors

• For further information on the survey undertaken by the Citizen's Advice Bureau, please contact the Bishop's Waltham and Meon Valley CAB, 01489 896376.

• The Government transferred funding for NHS dental care to the local primary care trusts from April 2006, and with it, the responsibility for deciding the level of care to be provided in their areas.

The new constituency of Meon Valley includes the following areas:

• From East Hampshire, Clanfield and Finchdean, Horndean and Rowlands Castle

• From Havant, Cowplain, Hart Plain and Waterloo

• From Winchester, Bishops Waltham, Boarhunt and Southwick, Cheriton and Bishops Sutton, Denmead, Droxford, Soberton and Hambledon, Owslebury and Curdridge, Shedfield, Swanmore and Newtown, Upper Meon Valley, Whiteley and Wickham