Oral QuestionDepartment of Health and Social Care

What steps his Department plans to take to improve access to NHS dentists.

Tabled: 17 July 2024Answered: 23 July 2024

Asked by

Steff Aquarone

Liberal DemocratNorth Norfolk

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Answer from Hansard

The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question and welcome him to his place. Thanks to what the Conservative party has done to NHS dentistry over the past 14 years, a staggering 13 million people are unable to see a dentist. I know that the hon. Gentleman represents the constituency that has the lowest number of dentists per head in the entire country. Our rescue plan will provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit dentists to areas that need them. We will rebuild the service for the longer term by reforming the dental contract.