Liz continues to warn of dentist dangers

12.26.05pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 19th Oct 2007

LIZ Leffman, prospective Liberal Democrat MP for Meon Valley, has reiterated the desperate need for more NHS dentists across Meon Valley following national news reports the situation has worsened.

Meon Valley Lib Dems have conducted surveys which show that up to 64 per cent of people have been unable to register with an NHS dentist, prompting Liz to speak on the issue at the party's Brighton conference last month.

A motion was debated and passed at conference calling for a reform of the current dentistry system so that services more readily meet patients' needs.

Liz said: "Although the national media have now latched on to this deeply concerning problem, I have been working hard in the community with residents and dentists for the past few months to gauge the seriousness of it.

"The Government promised to sort out the problem of a lack of dentistry by introducing a new dentists' contract in April, but this has not improved the situation. In fact, it has even worsened in some cases, with some dentists opting out of the new contract altogether.

"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 recently discussed the subject with dentist Dave Evans, who works at the Waterlooville NHS Health Centre.