All four Labour MPs in Dorset are calling for urgent government intervention on current NHS dental issues.
Jessica Toale (Bournemouth West), Lloyd Hatton (South Dorset), Neil Duncan-Jordan (Poole), and Tom Hayes (Bournemouth East) have jointly written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, urging immediate action to tackle what they describe as a ‘dental desert’.
No local NHS dentists are accepting new adult patients. Some residents travel to Southampton and Bristol, while others resort to DIY dentistry.
Laura Williams, from Bournemouth, makes a five-hour round trip to Bristol for check-ups, saying: “It’s madness. I can’t risk deregistering as I don’t know when I’ll find another NHS dentist.”
The South West has the worst NHS dental access in the UK, with 99.1% of practices closed to new patients. Nearly 60% of Dorset adults and 47% of children have not seen an NHS dentist in the past year.
Jessica Toale said: “It shouldn’t be impossible to access NHS dental care. Children are ending up in hospital for preventable issues.”
While 13,569 extra urgent dental appointments have been allocated to Dorset, the MPs stress this doesn’t solve the long-term lack of care.
Tom Hayes added: “Lack of NHS dentists in Bournemouth is harming residents. We need contract reform and more appointments to provide essential care.”
The MPs have requested a meeting with the Health Secretary and invited him to Dorset to understand the crisis and take urgent action.
