MP calls for dental reforms as stats show that HALF of all children in Cumbria haven’t seen an NHS dentist in the last two years

Cumbrian MP Tim Farron is calling for improvements to NHS dentistry contracts in order to reverse the decline in dental care across the county.

The Liberal Democrat MP met with senior NHS leaders in Parliament this week to challenge them over the state of dental care in Cumbria.

This comes as House of Commons data has revealed that just a third of all adults (33.4%) in Cumbria have seen a dentist in the last two years - a huge drop from 2015 when that number was 49.7%.

Meanwhile just less than half (49.8%) of children in the county have seen a dentist in the past 24 months - falling from 61.3% back in 2016.

According to the NHS' website, the nearest dental practice taking on NHS patients to the South Lakes is in Blackburn; an 80 mile round trip.

Tim said: "NHS services across Cumbria are in a state of crisis, and sadly dental care is no different. Too many people are having to pay money they don't have for care that is no longer provided by the NHS thanks to years of underinvestment and poor quality contracts.

"Two thirds of adults in our county haven't seen a dentist in the last two years. Perhaps more damagingly, half of all children haven't seen a dentist either, which is setting us up for widespread long-term problems and the need for more care further down the line.

"The Government need to sort out NHS contracts or even more people will be forced to turn to dangerous DIY dentistry."