Leech warns of South Manchester dentist crisis

12.50.02pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 7th Feb 2006

Withington Liberal Democrat MP John Leech has voiced his concerns about the crisis in NHS Dentistry in South Manchester following the release of a survey by the Manchester Local Dental Committee.

The survey, of 75% of Manchester practices, reveals that 73% of South Manchester dentists were considering leaving the NHS.

John Leech MP said:

"Having met several times with local dentists I am concerned that three-quarters are seriously considering quitting the NHS. This figure is far higher than for their colleagues in North and Central Manchester. The Government need to completely renegotiate the contract with dentists to take account of dentists' genuine concerns about the future."

Currently, fewer than 50% of people are registered with an NHS dentist, and John has previously highlighted in Parliament a constituent who had twice been told he could no longer stay on an NHS list - first by his Didsbury dentist and then by Cheadle Dentist Practice. John has also raised concerns that the "NHS Direct" web page is not updated often enough to give residents accurate information about which local dentists are taking on NHS patients.

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