South Lakes MP chairs dental access crisis debate in parliament
South Lakes MP, Tim Farron, chaired a parliamentary debate on the dental access crisis in Cumbria on Wednesday 3rd July.
Mr Farron, who has raised concerns over a lack of NHS dental places in the region in the past, debated the subject of dental access with government ministers. Cumbria is the one of the worst affected areas in terms of dental waiting lists and dentist shortages, with some patients forced to make a 90-mile round trip to see an NHS dentist.
According to figures from the British Dental Association, half of adults in the county have not seen a dentist in the last 2 years, despite the fact that health experts recommend routine checks every 6-12 months.
Mr Farron said that the debate provided a platform to discuss the issues in detail, to highlight the gravity of the situation in Cumbria and to discuss measures that can be introduced to improve access to NHS dental treatment. According to the South Lakes MP, People who are paying taxes are being let down by the government, which isn’t providing sufficient funding to ensure patients are able to access and benefit from local services.
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