Northampton residents still struggling to find an NHS Dentist, say Lib Dems

11.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 2nd Jun 2008

Shocking figures highlighted by Northampton North's Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman Andrew Simpson highlight major failings by the government to provide enough local NHS dentists.

Andrew Simpson's survey of Northampton residents about the state of the local Health Service showed that over a quarter of people in the town are not registered with an NHS dentist.

Even more worrying is the fact that 23% haven't been for a check up in the last 12 months and 36% have experienced problems in trying to get dental treatment with a local NHS dentist.

Andrew Simpson said: "Thousands of people across Northampton are not getting the dental treatment they need and deserve.

"Despite billions of pounds of extra investment having been pumped into the NHS, the public are not seeing the benefits on the front line because too much money is being wasted on managers and form fillers."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. The figures are based on Andrew Simpson's recent NHS Inquiry in which 860 people took part from 758 households in Northampton

2. The public were asked:

- "Are you registered as an NHS patient with a dentist?" (Results: Yes, 74%, No, 26%).

- "Have you or anyone in your family experienced any problems in trying to get dental treatment with a local NHS dentist?" (Results: Yes, 36%, No, 64%).

- "Have you been to a dentist for a check up in the last twelve months?" (Results: Yes, 77%, No, 23%).

Related Link:

See the results of Andrew's survey here.