Randerson Amazed at Rosy Dentistry Picture Painted by Pugh

11.18.02am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 29th Mar 2007

Welsh Lib Dem Health spokesperson Jenny Randerson AM said "Alan Pugh has bragged in his blog that when he was in Colwyn Bay with First Minister Rhodri Morgan he went to see the new NHS dental practice which is still taking new NHS registrations.

"If only the picture in other, non-marginal constituencies was so rosy. Many patients have been forced to go private and 74,000 former patients have lost access to NHS dentistry since the recent dentistry reforms were implemented.

"A Welsh Citizen's Advice Bureau reported that a client in her 80s on a limited income who had had dentures for 35 years was unable to find an NHS dentist. There are more many cases like this that go unreported

"BDA research shows that 85% of dentists in England and Wales believe that the new contract has not improved access to NHS dentistry for patients. A further 97% think the new contract has not removed the treadmill effect and 93% feel the new system does not encourage a more preventive approach to care.

"The Welsh Liberal Democrat Dental Action Plan includes clear steps to maintain dental health and relieve Labour's dentistry backlog."

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Notes:

Figures from BDA Research.

To see the Welsh Liberal Democrat Dental Action Plan please visit the policy section of www.welshlibdems.org.uk