MS raises state of dentistry with Health Minister

Access to NHS dentistry is in more of a dire situation now, than it was 12 months ago according to Montgomeryshire MS, Russell George.

According to statistics from Powys Health board last September 4,818 adults and 314 children were waiting for dental care.

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Senedd member Russell George has said that many of his constituents are still unable to get an appointment to see an NHS dentist.

Mr George told the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Eluned Morgan MS, during an exchange in the Senedd on the 1st May 2024 that the last full time NHS dentist in Newtown, has recently moved out of the area to work in England.

Mr George also said that the current NHS dentistry contract is not working for dentists, a new contact must be agreed, and that the Welsh Government need to make financial packages available to attract experienced dentists to come and work in rural Wales.

Commenting, Mr George said:

"There are not enough dentists in Welshpool to meet the demand, and in Newtown, the largest town in Montgomeryshire, the last full-time NHS dentist moved to England last week."

"The position is pretty dire."

"I told the Cabinet Secretary that we need to re-examine the NHS contract, because it’s clearly not working. If it was working, we wouldn’t be in the position that we’re in. We need a more attractive offer to stop dentists moving out of Wales.  We also need an offer to attract experienced dentists to come and place themselves in Wales, particularly rural Wales."

"My inbox is full of constituents asking how they can access a local NHS dentist, we seem to be in a worse state than we were 12 months ago."

"I asked the Health secretary when she thought people living in towns like Newtown and Welshpool, will be able to access an NHS dentist in the town where they live? Sadly, Eluned Morgan was not able to provide an adequate answer."