Wrexham residents are pulling out their own teeth amid dentist issues

Sarah Atherton has said that issues with dentists in Wrexham are 'nothing new' amid concerns over the service in north Wales. 

A recent study conducted by Sam Rowlands MS, concluded that only four out of 57 NHS dentists in the region were taking on new patients. 

Last week, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS, put forward an action plan to help 'save NHS dentistry'.

It appears that issues are ongoing in Wrexham, with residents struggling to access dentists and in some cases being forced to take matters into their own hands. 

Sarah Atherton

Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton said: "Sadly, constituents failing to access dentist appointments in Wrexham is nothing new. This is precisely why I launched my healthcare campaign.

"Accessing an NHS dentist has become a major issue and, despite working with BCUHB to highlight not only the issue across Wrexham but individual constituents’ concerns, the situation worsens - with no leadership or direction from the Welsh Labour Government.

"One constituent extracted his own tooth after struggling to access an NHS dentist, and constituents are telling me that a change in Welsh Government reform contracts may have led to an increase in their long-awaited appointments being cancelled.

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"I am calling on the Welsh Government to start putting people first, stop announcing strategies, reviews and consultations and start delivering for patients on the ground."

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We are taking action to improve access to dental services across Wales.

“We’ve increased funding for dentistry and doubled the number of training places for dental therapy at Cardiff University and a new dental hygiene programme started last year at Bangor University.

“Reform of the national dental contract has enabled 155,000 people, who did not have access to NHS dentistry, to receive care this year. We will continue to work with the dentistry sector to monitor and explore reform.

“All health boards have arrangements in place to provide emergency dental treatment, advice and support. People seeking treatment should contact the dental helpline or NHS 111 and they will be able to be assessed whether urgent treatment is needed, or whether the patient can be seen at the next earliest opportunity during normal hours.”