I supported a Westminster Hall debate on access to NHS Dentists.
The crisis with access to NHS Dentists needs to be dealt with urgently as an emergency.
I am grateful to our local Dentists and practises. They are aware of the issues and already work really hard and intensively to do what they can. For many, it is almost impossible.
I wrote to each local Dentist in Worthing and Arun. Many wrote back sharing their urgent concerns.
One dentist notes that they spend 40-50% of their time on NHS work whilst it only accounts for about 10% of their income.
Another reflects on the overbearing amount of time it takes to complete the burdonsome admin for NHS dentistry.
Recruitment and training is warned as yet another growing crisis for NHS dentists across Worthing, Arun and England.
Many warn that whilst they are doing everything they can to continue with their NHS contracts, they aren't able to take on new patients due to contractual limits.
This is wrong.
This has got to change and it has got to change fast.
We know what the impact of Covid has been but we know that the problems were there before and will be compounded more so as we escape from Covid.
Let us try and bring everyone together with the necessary urgent approach so that, in six months time, we can see significant improvements and see a full resolution in three or four years time.
