Dentistry Provision in Harrogate and Knaresborough I have been campaigning tirelessly to ensure that the residents of Harrogate and Knaresborough have access to a dentist. I am angry that so many of my constituents are not receiving a service for which they pay through their taxes and national insurance contributions. It is inequitable that NHS dentistry is available to some residents, who happen to be on the lists of dentists still working within the NHS, and also available to people living in other parts of the country.
May 2007 update: You may have already heard that the primary Care Trust has announced that it has some to an agreement with a large company, ADP Dental Ltd, to set up four new dental practices in the county. One of these will be in Harrogate. It is anticipated that the practice will be in a position to begin treating patients in January 2008. I hope that this will ensure that all my constituents will soon be able to receive the dental care that they require.
However I am still concerned that the new contract does not give dentists enough incentive to undertake vital preventative work and also reduces the number of check-ups available to one per year. Instead of being simply required to meet centrally determined targets, dentists should be allowed to use their professional judgement in providing care to their patients. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has already recommended that check-ups at different intervals between a few months and two years may be appropriate, depending on individual circumstances.
Campaigning in ParliamentQuestions to the Secretary of State |
