Dental crisis laid bare as 1 in 3 fail to get appointment in Norfolk and Waveney

People living in Norfolk and Waveney have the lowest chance of getting an NHS appointment at a dentist, new data has revealed.

The latest annual survey by the NHS showed that the area was the worst in the country when it came to availability of NHS appointments, with one in three people failing to see a dentist in the past two years.

It comes after the Government announced a new £200 million rescue package to make it easier and faster to access free dental care, amidst a crisis that has seen more and more practises remove NHS appointments.

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay, who is set to contend the new Waveney Valley seat at the next general election, said: “I have heard shocking tales from people, including one man who has to drive 200 miles to get dental treatment.

“Others are suffering pain at home because they can’t afford private treatment and can’t afford to travel the distance to NHS dentists.

“I speak to people all the time who are furious that successive governments have allowed this to happen.

“The rot set in with the universally despised dental contract – where independent providers are contracted to the NHS – introduced by the Labour government between 2006 and 2010.

“Then the coalition government took power in 2010 and made savage cuts to the amount spent on NHS dentistry.

“The budget has fallen by over a third – a real terms cut of £1 billion. This is unacceptable and unnecessary in what is one of the wealthiest countries in the world.”

Mr Ramsay intends to survey all 42,000 households in the Waveney Valley constituency to identify the worst spots in the dental and GP deserts of Norfolk and Suffolk.

“Work we have already done on the doorstep tells us that lack of access to NHS dentists is the number one issue in the constituency,” he said. “Difficulty in getting GP appointments is close behind.

“I want to use the data from this survey to help me fight for better dental and GP services in the constituency which straddles some of the worst spots in Norfolk and Suffolk.”

“That’s why I am proud to back the Toothless in England campaign, which took root in Suffolk and aims to get contracts for NHS dentists that cover their costs.

“The Green Party is calling for a new approach, starting with new contracts for NHS dentists that cover the costs of care. I am pushing hard for this now and will make this an urgent priority as an MP.”