New official figures expose consequences of lack of access to NHS dentists in Bolton

An unacceptable number of people across Bolton needed emergency dental treatment in hospital because of a lack of access to NHS dentists, it was revealed today. These urgent admissions are a direct result of patients not having an NHS dentist who would normally able to treat them in an emergency.

·          New figures extracted by the Conservatives show that across the country, 22,000 people had to be admitted to hospital for emergency dental treatment last year. These emergency hospital admissions are costing the NHS £13 million a year.

·          In Bolton, 51 people received emergency dental treatment in hospitals, costing the local NHS an estimated £30,000. Most of this has to be borne by already over-stretched A&E departments.

·          This comes as the latest NHS figures show that 41% of the population across Bolton have not been seen by an NHS dentist in the last two years.

Cllr Andy Morgan, Conservative Candidate for Bolton South East,  said “These figures underline once again the Government’s appalling failure on NHS dentistry.  41% of people across Bolton have been unable to see an NHS dentist. It comes as no surprise that 51 people have been forced to the Royal Bolton Hospital last year for emergency dental care, straining our already over-stretched A&E department still further.''

“We need to cut out waste and bureaucracy in NHS dentistry and restore access to an NHS dentist to the millions who have lost out under this Government.”

Conservatives have announced a series of reforms to NHS dentistry which will improve NHS care. The comprehensive plan proposes:

·          Creating new incentives for dentists to spend more time on preventative dental care, improving oral health and reducing long-term costs.

·          Restoring access to an NHS dentist for the one million patients who have lost it under Labour, by removing costly bureaucracy and cutting out waste.

·          Using money currently spent on carrying out unnecessary treatments to reintroduce dental screening for children in schools.

·          Ensuring that taxpayer-trained dentists work for the NHS for at least five years.