NHS Dentists Closed to New Patients

12.00.00am GMT Sat 12th Feb 2005

When Labour came to power in 1997 they promised that dental treatment on the NHS would be available to all by 2001. That promise now rings very hollow to thousands of Milton Keynes residents.

NHS dental care in England is in crisis as new figures show that over three in five adults and around half of all children are not registered with an NHS dentist. Here in Milton Keynes the percentage of adults and children registered has fallen since 1997.

There are now NO dentists in the Milton Keynes area accepting new patients on the NHS.

Jane Carr, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for North East Milton Keynes says: "The Government is sitting idly by while NHS dental care becomes harder to find as more and more dentists go private. The fact that dentists have pulled out of contract negotiations is very worrying. The Government's solution to the crisis in NHS dentistry is just not working. And as NHS dental cover declines, so too does dental health.

"Everyone deserves to be able to register with a local NHS dentist, not to have to journey miles and miles in search of dental care.

"Liberal Democrats are committed to rebuilding NHS dentistry and will scrap the charge for dental check-ups as part of a programme to promote good health."

Urgent NHS dental treatment can be obtained by contacting Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust's Dental Access Centres at:

• Wolverton Health Centre, Gloucester Road, Wolverton (223132)

• Westcroft Centre, 16 Barnsdale Drive, Westcroft (508829)

• Water Eaton Health Centre, Fern Grove, Bletchley (372219)

• Eaglestone Health Centre, Hospital Campus, Standing Way (694599)

• Neath Hill Health Centre, 1 Tower Crescent, Neath Hill (695332)

• Shipley Court, Marsh End Road, Newport Pagnell (210874).