Medway Liberal Democrats have slammed the Government’s new dental plan as figures suggest 73,640 children in Kent and Medway had not been seen by an NHS dentist in 12 months.

The research, commissioned from the House of Commons Library, estimates the number of children who weren’t seen by an NHS dentist in the year to June 2023, based on the latest data from the health service. 

It shows a staggering 45% of children had not been seen by a dentist in Kent and Medway over the ‘twelve’ month period. It has previously been estimated that the NHS budget was underspent by a record £400m last year, due to dentists not finding it economically viable to take on NHS work. The Lib Dems are calling for a dental healthcare rescue plan to boost the number of appointments. 

The Liberal Democrats are also calling for reforms to guarantee access to an NHS dentist for everyone needing urgent and emergency care, ending DIY dentistry and “dental deserts”, and for the removal of VAT on children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste. 

Stuart Bourne, Medway Liberal Democrat PPC for Gillingham and Rainham said, “The government’s plans are too little, too late for local families who have been left waiting in pain and struggling to get a dentist appointment. It is appalling that so many children in our area are not getting to see an NHS dentist when they need to. We know that if children can’t access dental healthcare it can disrupt their eating, sleeping and learning. Instead of half-baked reforms, we need a proper rescue package for dental healthcare. 

That means guaranteeing access to an NHS dentist for everyone needing emergency care, boosting the number of appointments and removing VAT on children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste.” 

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The research from the House of Commons Library can be found here. 

Tooth decay being the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged 6-10 can be found here.

It has previously been estimated that the NHS budget was underspent by a record £400m last year, due to dentists not finding it economic to take on NHS work.