Farron calls on NHS to recruit more dentists for Kendal

12.00.00pm GMT Wed 28th Jan 2009

Local MP Tim Farron has today welcomed news that NHS Cumbria are in the process of increasing dental provision to Kendal, but has warned that more must be done for dental patients in South Lakeland.

Figures released by the National Health Service in December revealed that the number of South Lakeland residents seeing an NHS dentist had dropped by over 2000 since the introduction of new dental contracts in April 2006. Furthermore, following Captain French's decision to go private, many patients were forced to either sign up for private treatment or wait for a replacement NHS dentist.

Cumbria Primary Care Trust say that they have received more bids from Dentists to do NHS work locally than they are planning to accept. Tim has reacted to this by urging the PCT to take on more dentists.

Commenting Mr Farron said:

"The PCT has a waiting list of around 2500 people who are seeking an NHS dentist in South Lakeland, but I know from answers to Parliamentary Questions that there are at least 35,000 of my constituents who do not have an NHS dentist. The PCT's list does not tell the whole story and so they must act to meet the real need - this is a perfect opportunity to expand NHS dentistry locally and the PCT should grab that chance with both hands."

"There are still thousands of people in South Lakeland who simply aren't able to visit a local dentist. I know of one resident who travels all the way to Sheffield just to see a dentist. Surely when people are forced to travel as far as this it's clear that the current system isn't working.