survey - half of respondents aren’t registered with an NHS dentist

New local health survey shows half of respondents aren’t registered with an NHS dentist 

A new health survey commissioned by the Harpenden & Berkhamsted Liberal Democrats shows that half of people who responded aren’t registered with an NHS dentist.

And the results also show a third of people who completed the survey have had problems trying to get dental treatment with a local NHS dentist.

50% of people who completed the Liberal Democrats’ local health and social care survey are not registered with an NHS dentist.

31% of survey respondents say they have had problems trying to get dental treatment with a local NHS dentist.

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 the removal of VAT on children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Harpenden & Berkhamsted, Victoria Collins said:

“Local families are being left waiting in pain struggling to get a dentist appointment. Our survey paints a picture of people struggling to find an NHS dentist, paying to go private, or in some cases ending up in A&E.”

“It is appalling that so many people in Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Tring and our villages are struggling to see an NHS dentist when they need to.” 

“We need a 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.”

“People in Harpenden & Berkhamsted deserve better and voters are crying out for real change after being taken for granted by this Conservative government.”