Our MP, Rebecca Pow, has highlighted the extreme difficulties many residents are facing in Taunton Deane – and particularly Wellington – in accessing NHS dental treatment.
She met with Health Minister, Maria Caulfield, to highlight the issue and has pledged to keep up the pressure in Westminster to help improve dental provision locally.
Ms Pow said: “I have been contacted by many residents who are unable to access an NHS dentist.
“I appreciate that dental services have been impacted by the pandemic. However, I made it clear to the Minister that this situation needs to be improved.
“I welcome the £50million of extra funding the Government has recently announced across England to support 350,000 additional dental appointments, with £4.7million being allocated to the South West region.
“I am progressing this with the Director of Commissioning Operations for dentistry in the South West to ensure they put in an expression of interest for funding to cover services in Taunton Deane.”
The Minister stated that patients can check the NHS website (https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist) or call NHS 111 to find available appointments in the area.
But Ms Pow added: “I stressed that, at the moment, if there are appointments, they are often not easily accessible for patients in Taunton Deane which is why more capacity needs to be provided for the area through the newly-allocated funding.”