15 February 2024 , 12:46
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A dentist visited by a Tory Health Minister in Northamptonshire is not accepting NHS patients, it can revealed.
Andrea Leadsom visited the dental practice for a photo op to boast about the Government's new Dental Recovery Plan, which promises to unlock millions more appointments. But it has emerged that the dentist she visited, which was in her constituency, is a private practice not offering care to NHS patients.
Ms Leadsom's posted a photo of herself on Twitter/X with dentist James at the practice, with a caption reading: "It was a pleasure to meet James at Simply Smile Shire Court Dental Practice in Towcester to hear his views on contract reform... Last week we announced our Dental Recovery Plan - our £200million plan to unlock 2.5million appointments and boost prevention measures."
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Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: "It’s so difficult to find an NHS dentist under the Tories, even the Dentistry Minister can't manage it. NHS dentistry will remain out of reach for millions as long as the Conservatives are in charge. Only Labour has a plan to rescue NHS dentistry, so everyone who needs an NHS dentist can get one."
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It comes after a dentist visited by Rishi Sunak in Cornwall last week was also revealed not to be accepting new adult NHS patients. The Prime Minister met staff and patients at Gentle Dental in Newquay where he boasted he was taking “very significant” action to end the crisis in dentistry. But it emerged that the practice has closed its books to new patients over the age of 18.
The dentist's website clearly states it is a private dental practiceMore than 12million people were unable to get dental care last year – more than 1 in 4 adults in England. At the same time 90% of dental practices are no longer accepting new NHS adult patients. The Mirror is campaigning to get dental access for all as millions are unable to get appointments to get their teeth checked.
The Prime Minister used his visit to Cornwall to promote plans that will see dentists offered cash to take on new patients and given £20,000 "golden hellos" to work in under-served communities. But experts have warned it will not go far enough and accused Mr Sunak of failing to deliver on the pledge he made to “restore” NHS dentistry when he was running to become Tory leader.
Sign our petition HERE to save NHS dentistry and make it fit for the 21st century