Conservative MP for Thanet South Laura Sandys Secures Health Secretary's Pledge for Dentists....
"Residents Will Always Have Access to NHS Dentists!"
Laura Sandys MP has secured the Health Secretary's commitment that residents across the country will always have easy access to an NHS dentist. Laura's question in Parliament followed the Office of Fair Trading's decision to suspend NHS contracts at two dentists in Sandwich and Ramsgate. The OFT deemed the company to have too dominant a position in East Kent's dental market.
Laura said: "Nobody enjoys a visit to the dentist, but as taxpayers we all deserve easy access to an NHS practice. Locally we have some superb dentists and my mission is to ensure we attract some new providers into the area to take over these NHS contracts. While this situation might be temporarily disruptive, patients will be able to attend alternative dentists nearby.
"This is not a political issue, but a competition problem. The Government is committed to providing first class NHS dentistry provision and 1.1 million more patients have been seen by NHS dentists than under Labour. Each and every one of us will continue to have NHS funding.
"I will shortly be meeting again with the PCT, the company and the OFT to resolve this situation once and for all. I will be examining whether the local dentists could continue to serve our communities on a self-employed basis and how we can ensure these practices are taken over by new providers as quickly as possible."
If you need a dentist...Please ring the NHS Dental Helpline on 0808 238 9797 for details of your nearest NHS dentist.
Health Questions in the House of Commons - Topical Questions
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T1. [117302] Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con): If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Andrew Lansley): My responsibility is to lead the NHS in delivering improved health outcomes in England, to lead a public health service that improves the health of the nation and reduces health inequalities, and to lead the reform of adult social care, which supports and protects vulnerable people.
Laura Sandys: I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. Two of my local dentists have been closed as a result of an Office of Fair Trading investigation. Although that is totally understandable and nothing to do with the NHS, will the Secretary of State confirm to my constituents that they will have access to NHS-funded dentists? There happen to be more NHS-funded dentists in this country now than there were under the previous Government.
Mr Lansley: I think I can give my hon. Friend that reassurance. We are committed to increasing access to NHS dentistry, and over 1.1 million more patients have been seen by an NHS dentist since May 2010 than before the election. Nationally, there are more dentists. In 2010-11, there were 22,799 compared with 22,003 in the preceding year, before the election. NHS Kent and Medway has confirmed that it will have six dentists in place from 1 September 2012 who will temporarily provide the treatment that she is looking for, and it has started tendering processes to commission permanent NHS dental services in her area.
Picture above shows Laura Sandys left, Andrew Lansley the Health Secretary right.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
