Vikki Slade

Vikki Slade

Liberal Democrat — Mid Dorset and North Poole

Speaking in the House of Commons on 12 November 2026

Debate

NHS Dentistry

Contribution

I rise to present a petition on NHS dentistry on behalf of 1,060 residents in Mid Dorset and North Poole. In the past two years, £17 million has been lost from our dental budget in Dorset, while the population increases, demand grows, and the gaps in NHS dental services get bigger. Nearly £10 million was provided to dentists but not spent in the first year, and it was not transferred to NHS dentists with existing waiting lists. This year the budget appears to have been reduced by nearly £7 million, and the integrated care board has failed to explain how it has used the money and how it is serving people. The petitioners have asked me to request that the House of Commons “urge the Government to require Integrated Care Boards to spend the entirety of their ringfenced NHS Dentistry Budgets solely on dental services.” Following is the full text of the petition: [The petition of residents of Mid Dorset and North Poole, Declares that NHS dentistry is in a state of crisis; further declares that patients are facing worsening access to dental care, reduced numbers of urgent appointments, and growing waiting lists; further declares that in Dorset alone, millions of pounds have reportedly gone unspent or been removed from a ringfenced dentistry budget, despite increasing need; further declares that urgent action is needed to ensure that money allocated for NHS dentistry is spent only on dentistry. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to require Integrated Care Boards to spend the entirety of their ringfenced NHS Dentistry Budgets solely on dental services. And the petitioners remain, etc.] [P003260]

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