‘Explain why no dentist taking on NHS patients’

LIB DEMS CALL ON MINISTERS TO SEE THE PROBLEM FOR THEMSELVES

LIBERAL Democrats are demanding a health minister visits the county to explain why no dental practices in Leicestershire are accepting new adult NHS patients.

The BBC contacted 58 dental practices in Leicestershire with NHS contracts as part of a national survey and found that none was accepting new adult NHS patients.

Leader of Leicestershire Liberal Democrats Michael Mullaney said he wants the minister to explain why – and also wants the minister to meet with people who have been forced to “wait in agony for months” due to a lack of NHS dentist appointments.

The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of breaking the dental system due to a lack of investment.

The party has also called for new plans to be brought forward to recruit more local NHS dentists, so no matter where people live they know they can get the NHS dental care they need.

Councillor Mullaney, the leader of the opposition on Leicestershire County Council, said: “People in our area should know if they are in pain or face a health emergency that the NHS is there for them.

“Yet these scandalous figures prove NHS dentistry in Leicestershire is at breaking point.

“Our NHS dental system is broken because this government has failed to stump up the cash.

“People are being forced to spend hundreds if not thousands of pounds on private dental care, with some even resorting to their own at-home DIY dentistry.

“The fault for this lies solely with the Conservative government.

“They have done next to nothing to tackle this crisis.

“Liberal Democrats are demanding a health minister visits our area to meet with dentists and patients to hear just how bad things are here.”