DENTAL CRISIS WILL TAKE YEARS TO SOLVE - MP

Back in April this year, the Express revealed 6,000 dental patients in the Uckfield area were left with a near-impossible task to find a NHS dentist after all but one of the town's practices chose to go private following a row over new government contracts.

Many people in the town faced the choice between paying for private treatment or moving to Ringmer, Lewes or Crowborough.

Mr Hendry expressed his concerns about the current crisis in NHS dentistry at a meeting of the East Sussex Health Oversight and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC).

He said: 'The cause of the crisis is the government's new contract for dentists, which led to a significant number of dentists leaving the NHS altogether. Uckfield has been especially hard hit with five of the town's six dentists quitting the health service.

'I have written to the Health Minister, Rosie Winterton MP, twice, asking the government to get involved to resolve the situation, but all she will say is that this is for the local primary care trust (PCT) to sort out. So, the PCT has been left to clear up the government's mess.

'I think the PCT is probably doing all it can in the circumstances to resolve the problem, trying to establish new NHS dental practices, but we need to recognise that this will take time, possibly some years to put in place.'

With the crisis in care set to continue for some time, many residents are left asking why they must continue to pay income tax and National Insurance but have little or no access to NHS treatment.'

The Board of Sussex Downs and Weald PCT agreed last week to put a tendering process for the long-term provision of additional NHS dental services in Uckfield on hold pending a further review of NHS dental services in six month's time.

Mr Hendry added: 'I will continue to press the government to do more to address the situation, but it all makes the Prime Minister's pledge nine years ago, that everyone would have access to an NHS dentist, more hollow than ever. This is especially cruel for those who are older or who are unable to travel, but who cannot afford to go for private treatment.'

People seeking a NHS dentist should contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk