Labour Government don't have the answer to Dentist Crisis

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 9th Mar 2006

The Government's incompetent management of NHS dentistry has been slammed by Manchester Withington Lib Dem MP John Leech.

The Labour Government Health Minister in charge of Care Delivery has said that the Government do not know how many dental practices in Manchester Withington have stopped taking on new NHS patients.

In answer to a Parliamentary Question from John Leech, MP for Manchester Withington, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health replied that the information was not held centrally by his department.

John Leech MP said:

"I am flabbergasted that the government cares so little about the future of NHS dentistry that they do not even bother to monitor the numbers of dentists who are being forced to opt out of NHS work. Dentists tell me that, far from improving the situation, the Government's proposed new contract for dentists will make it harder for them to work for the NHS. People in South Manchester should be able to expect dental treatment on the NHS - it is a scandal that this Labour government are failing to fulfill this very basic requirement."

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