Liz to speak out on state of dentistry in Meon Valley

10.32.27pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 14th Sep 2007

Liz speaks out on local dentists

LIZ Leffman, prospective Liberal Democrat MP for Meon Valley, will be speaking in a debate on NHS dentists at the party's Brighton conference on Monday, 17 September. The motion, which is being proposed by Romsey MP Sandra Gidley, is critical of the Government's record on the provision of NHS dental care.

Meon Valley Lib Dems have conducted a series of surveys which show that up to 64 per cent of people in the Meon Valley constituency are unable to register with an NHS dentist.

Liz said: "The Government promised to sort out the lack of NHS care by introducing a new dentists' contract in April of last year. However, it is clear this has not improved the situation - and there is even evidence to suggest the situation has worsened, with some dentists opting out of the new contract altogether.

"Many dentists now refuse to take on NHS patients with a lot of dental problems as they simply cannot recover the cost of remedial work. I have been contacted by several constituents who do not know where to go because no-one will take them on.

"I will be fully supporting the party motion, which proposes greater flexibility in contracts, allowing dentists to spend more time with NHS patients. The motion will call for dentists to be able to claim for remedial work with new patients and, by scrapping the charge for a check-up, will put the emphasis onto preventative dental care.

"As well as improving existing contracts, I believe that we need to give Primary Care Trusts the flexibility to employ NHS dentists, as well as contracting with private practices, in order to increase the number of dentists available for NHS patients in areas like Meon Valley."

Liz will also discuss the unacceptable findings of the Meon Valley surveys with Norman Lamb MP, Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Health.