Rowen tackles Minister for Health about NHS Dentists

Paul Rowen

Local MP Paul Rowen forced the Minister for Health, Rosie Winterton, to admit that the dentist crisis has deepened since Labour came to power.

Paul asked the Minister why NHS dental registrations had fallen by a third in the last eight years, and how she could regard this as progress.

Mrs Winterton replied, “Of course that is not progress, and it is not good that the number of NHS places has fallen.”

Speaking after the debate, Paul said, “At last the Labour Government has admitted what we all know: NHS dentistry has been a shambles under Labour. We have all seen how recently in Langley, Middleton, people – many of them from Rochdale - queued from 4.00am to try to get on a dentist’s list.

“Labour has had eight years in power and access to NHS dentists is worse than ever. Rochdale needs real action to make sure that enough dentists are trained and that they are given enough support if they choose to work in the NHS. Instead Labour wants to fiddle round the edges.

“I am seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister as I am concerned that the new dental contract, which comes into effect next April, will do nothing to enable the Rochdale PCT to recruit more dentists.”