After 14 years of Tory neglect, it’s almost impossible to see an NHS dentist in Stretford and Urmston. Andrew Western, the MP for Stretford and Urmston, spoke up in Parliament about the misery this is causing for far too many people.

Andrew Western said: “After 14 long years of Conservative Government, our country is going backwards. Nothing demonstrates that better than the dire condition of NHS dentistry. What kind of country has this Government allowed us to become when people are forced to pull out their own teeth with pliers, because locating a dentist taking new patients is almost impossible? Talk about going backwards: the Conservatives are dragging us back to Victorian times.

“The lack of access to NHS dentistry is one of the most common issues raised with me by constituents in Stretford and Urmston. The most recent data available shows that only 4% of dental practices in my local authority area of Trafford are accepting new adult patients on the NHS.”

Andrew also pointed out that the current system of finding a dentist doesn’t work.

“The current NHS ‘find a dentist’ website is badly out of date. Despite claims to the contrary, a search using a postcode from Old Trafford in my constituency reveals that none of the top five results is accepting new patients. My constituents tell me they waste time they do not have calling around surgeries because of the results they have been given, only to be disappointed,” he explained.

If Stretford and Urmston residents do manage to find an NHS dentist that is taking on new patients, then they then they then face unacceptable wait times, the MP explained.

He said: “As of September last year, there were almost 2,000 patients waiting for oral surgery in my local authority area of Trafford, with the majority waiting far longer than the NHS 18-week target for treatment.

“Behind these numbers are people enduring months of pain, distress and misery. In many cases, their ability to work or learn is affected. They cannot sleep. They cannot enjoy the basics of life, like food and drink, and do not feel confident enough to go out with friends and family socially. That is the impact.”

In the Chamber, Andrew acknowledged the challenges that the pandemic had caused NHS Dentistry. But he also reminded Members that the Prime Minister had pledged to restore NHS Dentistry during his leadership campaign. Something which is yet to happen.

Labour has a fully-funded plan to restore NHS Dentistry so it is there for everyone who needs it. The Party has tabled a motion to make it happen.

Andrew Western said: “Politics is about choices. We on the Labour Benches choose NHS dentistry, ending the misery, the wait and the pain for so many, over tax breaks for the super-rich. There should be no contest. I urge all Members, including those on the Conservative Benches, to support the substantive motion.”

The motion tabled by the Labour Party made the following proposals:

• 700,000 more urgent dentistry appointments
• Incentives to recruit dentists to the areas most in need
• Supervised toothbrushing in schools for three- to five-year-olds
• Reform of the NHS dental contract so everyone who needs a dentist can get one

Labour would fund the plan by abolishing the non-dom tax status, a tax break which allows wealthy people who live and work in Britain to pay their taxes overseas.