More than 20,000 local people prevented from seeing NHS Dentist

Andrew Kay of Rochdale & District Citizens Advice Bureau and Paul Rowen MP MP

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen is backing Citizen’s Advice’s campaign to expand access to NHS services.  Citizens Advice recently surveyed 1,800 in England and Wales and found that of those - 300 people couldn’t get access to an NHS dentist. 

The results suggest that as many as 7.4 million people could be affected nationwide. This is one in six people and if these results are repeated in Rochdale – it means that as many as 20,000 could be without crucial treatment.  Paul Rowen is claiming that figure could be even higher in the light of figures he received last year from the Government.

Mr Rowen said: “I have made access to an NHS Dentist one of my key priorities since being elected.  Last year, I was able to force a previous health minister – Rosie Winterton MP to admit access to NHS Dentists has got worse since Labour came to power.  It is clear that the situation is not improving fast enough – the fact that only 38% people had access to a NHS Dentist last year in Rochdale last year caused alarm. 

"Access to an NHS Dentist has improved slightly since then with recent new services at Castlemere and in Littleborough.  There is still a long way to go though and it is something I have been working with the PCT to correct. 

"The new Dental Contract has brought in a significant number of problems with many dentists going private as a result. 

"The results of Citizen Advice’s poll suggest that the most vulnerable are clearly those most affected. 

"In many areas of Rochdale – residents simply cannot afford private treatment and I will continue to work with the PCT to ensure that when new dentists are appointed pensioners and children are prioritised.”

Lester Ellman, of the British Dental Association, said: "It is clear dentistry is not getting any better.  The bottom line is that there are not enough dentists working in the NHS and that is because the government have failed to make it attractive enough."