PM challenged over lack of dentists in Bradford
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- Published: Monday, 01 February 2016 07:36
- Written by News Editor
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Access to NHS dentists was raised by Bradford South MP, Judith Cummins, at Prime Minister's Questions. She asked the Prime Minister to look at the lack of availability of NHS dentists there ‘as a matter of urgency’. Mr Cameron replied that there had been a ‘big increase’ in NHS dentistry since 2010 and reminded Labour about ‘huge queues around the block’ for an NHS dentist when Labour was in government.
Judith Cummins MP said: “Forty six per cent of five year old children in Bradford suffer from tooth decay, compared with 28 per cent across England, and less than half the children living in Bradford districts have seen a dentist in the last two years. Given the costs of treating tooth decay far exceed the costs of prevention, would the Prime Minister look at the lack of availability of NHS dentists, in Bradford South, as a matter of urgency."
Replying David Cameron replied that there had been a ‘big increase’ in NHS dentistry He said: “Before 2010, we had huge queues around the block when a new NHS dentist turned up because there weren't enough of them.’ However he told the MP that he would look into the situation in Bradford. “We have seen a big increase in NHS dentistry but I will look very carefully at the situation in Bradford,” he said.
Speaking to a local paper after Prime Minister’s Questions, Ms Cummins said: “I'm determined to get a better deal for my constituents in Bradford South. The Government can and must do more to tackle the shortage of NHS dentists in our area and do more to support overall dental health. Despite massive cuts to its public health funding, Bradford Council is doing its part to tackle dental health inequalities, commissioning a series of oral health improvement programmes focused on young children’s oral health called Building Brighter Smiles (BBS), but it does not have control over the availability of NHS dentists.”
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