Richard Foord, MP for Honiton & Sidmouth, says he broadly welcomes the Government’s announcement to shift NHS dentistry funding into urgent care.
Yet he has expressed concern that there appears to be no new money, and is vigilant about what that might mean for prevention.
Mr Foord, who was critical of the Chancellor last month for not mentioning the subject in her budget speech, has raised the issue of poor access to NHS dentistry in Parliament 20 times since he was first elected in 2022, including during a debate he led last year.
He says that he continues to receive a steady stream of correspondence from residents of Mid- and East Devon.
Mr Foord explained: “I understand that the Government’s financial position is very challenging. I suppose that is why funding is being moved to urgent care, from preventative check-ups.
“People must have access to urgent care. That goes without question, as there are far too many people left in appalling pain, some of whom end up pulling their own teeth.
“Yet if the time between check-ups is too much, there could be even more people with poor dental health, with dentists acting only as crisis managers. It is essential that preventative care is not lost.
“People who I represent repeatedly write to me in pain and despair, some unable to afford hundreds of pounds for badly-needed treatment,” he explained.
“Dickensian dental services have been the norm for over a decade in Devon, and that should make former Conservative health ministers hang their heads in shame.”
In 2015, 55 percent of adults in Devon were able to see an NHS dentist, but this number has since plunged to less than 38 percent.
The number of NHS dentists in Devon has reduced from 549 to 497 over the past decade.
Mr Foord added: “I am very glad we have finally seen action on this issue, but I remain concerned that the lack of new money will not resolve the dental desert here in Devon.”
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