MP calls on PCT to provide dentistry home visits

6.00.55pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 14th Jul 2008

Local MP Tim Farron has called on Cumbria's Primary Care Trust to put domiciliary dentistry services (i.e. home visits) back into dentists' contracts in South Lakeland.

Until 2½ years ago, patients who were unable to travel to a surgery through ill health could receive a visit from a local dentist at home. However, when the new NHS contracts were introduced for dentists, the local PCT removed the provision for domiciliary dentistry. Dentists can still provide the service, but it has an impact on their other activity which makes it difficult to provide.

Tim has raised the issue with the PCT following contact from a constituent - Doris Hayton - who had problems getting a dentist to do a home visit for her house-bound sister when she was in severe pain with a tooth which needed removal.

Tim said: "Since the new NHS contracts were introduced 2½ years ago, there have been a number of issues raised with the contracts. This is yet another issue with them, as it appears the local PCT has used the change in contracts to remove the provision for domiciliary dentistry.

"I'm calling on the PCT to reinstate domiciliary dentistry, and add it to the contract of a local dentist so that in the future local residents, like Doris Hayton's sister, are not left without access to dentistry when they are in severe pain."