Labour's plan to rescue NHS dentistry was voted down by the Tories last week. Unforgiveable.

I don't think Rishi Sunak understands how hard it is to find an NHS dentist at the moment.@Plymouth_Live has the details on Labour's rescue plan… https://t.co/cWO2vBO8M5 pic.twitter.com/FRWbzviG18

— Luke Pollard MP (@LukePollard) January 15, 2024

I believe that the goverment’s move to vote down a motion which could save NHS dentistry is appaling.

It dissapoints me further to hear Plymouth Moor View MP Johnny Mercer voting against the rescue plan with the well-known problems over NHS dentistry provision in the city.

Healthwatch are reporting horror stories of people being forced to pull their own teeth out alongside recent stories that none of the dental surgeries, providing recent updates, are accepting new adult patients.

Locally, I am working on a cross-party basis to combat the NHS dentistry crisis, with Rishi Sunak not being able to grasp the magnitude of the number of people without a dentist on his watch.

Labour’s plan to rescue NHS dentistry would mean that patients can be seen on time again.

Labour has promised much-needed practical support:

• 700,000 urgent dentistry appointments
• Supervised toothbrushing in schools for 3-5 year olds, ensuring that good habits are cultivated from early on.

Not only this the motion includes the long-term changes needed to sustain efficient dentistry with:

• Reform of the NHS dental contract
• Incentives to recruit dentists to the areas most in need.

Labour’s plan for dentistry is fully costed. The abolition of the non-dom tax status would allow for this investment because people who live and work in Britain should pay their taxes here too.