Dental Crisis: Over half of Londoners without NHS dentist says Teather

2.19.14pm GMT Thu 19th Feb 2004

Government must get a grip on the Dental Crisis says Teather

NHS dental care in London is in crisis as new official figures show that over three in five adults and half of children are not registered with an NHS dentist.

With so many people going unregistered, the Liberal Democrats have called for the Government to 'get a grip' on the crisis.

The figures show no progress in improving the situation since 1999. The percentage of children registered has gone down since then. Official figures also show:

1) Fewer than half the children in North East London are registered

2) Fewer than half the adults in North Central London, North East London, South East London and South West London are registered

Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Minister Sarah Teather MP said:

"The Government is sitting idly by whilst London NHS dental care faces meltdown.

"With so few dentists accepting NHS patients in London it is little wonder that the levels of people registering with the NHS are so low.

"The Government must get to grips with the crisis in dental care. Every patient deserves to be able to register with a local NHS dentist."