"PCT must act to keep NHS dentistry at Stramongate" - Farron

3.00.00pm GMT Wed 9th Jan 2008

After the successful campaign to keep the Ambleside NHS dental practice open last year, local MP Tim Farron is today calling on Cumbria Primary Care Trust to prevent the dentist practice in Stramongate from going private. The level of NHS dentistry available nationally has dropped sharply under the current Labour Government, and Mr Farron wants to see this trend reversed.

As Countryside spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, Mr Farron will continue to campaign hard to retain public services in rural areas.

Mr Farron said:

"Access to dental care on the NHS is a huge issue in our area, and it is absolutely crucial that the PCT steps in here and prevents the Stramongate practice from going entirely private.

"The availability of public services in rural areas is something that this Government has totally neglected, that much is obvious from the planned raft of post office closures. We must not allow this to continue."