Richard Foord MP queries progress to fix hole in NHS dentistry

Richard Foord, the MP for Honiton & Sidmouth, says he is surprised and disappointed that there was only one minor mention of NHS dentistry in the 152 page budget document.

Speaking after the Budget, he said the Chancellor appeared to ignore dental deserts in her speech to the Commons this afternoon.

Richard Foord led a debate on poor access to NHS dentistry in the south west last year. He has raised the issue in Parliament 20 times since he was first elected in 2022, and says that he is still receiving a steady stream of correspondence from residents of Mid- and East Devon.

Richard said: “My constituents repeatedly write to me in pain and despair, many unable to afford hundreds of pounds for badly-needed treatment.”

In 2015, 55 percent of adults in Devon were able to see an NHS dentist, but this number has since plunged to less than 38 percent.

The number of NHS dentists in Devon has reduced from 549 to 497 over the past decade.

Mr Foord continued: “I appreciate that it’s not a simple task to undo years of Conservative stewardship of the NHS. Yet I was hopeful that this government might have been able to make some headway so that people are not forced to pull their own teeth. The slow pace is very frustrating for people who I represent, who tell me that they cannot access NHS dental care.

“I will continue to push the Government to take action on the provision of adequate dental care on the NHS, on behalf of my despairing constituents.”