New Nhs Dental Contract Fails Chesterfield

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 28th Mar 2007

Commenting on the British Dental Association report on the state of NHS Dentistry published today, Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield said:

"This report shows that despite the Government's promises, access to NHS dentistry has worsened since the introduction of the new contract a year ago.

"This national research reflects the problems in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire.

"Both the new Derbyshire Primary Care Trust, at a meeting last December, and the Health Minister, in a recent letter to me, deny that there is a problem. But they are in denial about the reality experienced by my constituents.

"Surveys from Which?, the British Dental Association and the Liberal Democrats show the level of problems accessing NHS Dentistry across the country.

"The new contract was rushed through with little understanding of the impact on dentists and patients. Now the Government must listen to the concerns of dentists and give them the flexibility and resources to deliver dental care for NHS patients."