Dentists: New figures show half a million fewer now being treated

4.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 29th Feb 2008

Dentist

Figures released today show that more than half a million people across England have lost access to NHS dentistry since Government reforms in April 2006. In the 24 months leading up to 30 September 2007 a total of 27.6 million patients were seen by an NHS dentist. This is a fall of 0.5 million compared with the 24 months leading up to the end of the old dental contract on 31 March 2006.

Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Norman Lamb said "The crisis in NHS dentistry is this Government's hidden legacy. Despite repeated promises and much trumpeted reforms, more than half a million fewer people have access to NHS dentists. When patients do find a dentist, the charging system makes it unaffordable for many poor and elderly. As a result, people ignore their deteriorating dental health until they reach crisis point. When will the Government bow to the inevitable and admit that the dental contract has failed?"