MP calls on Government to fix South Lakes dental crisis

Local MP Tim Farron is pushing the Government to solve the ongoing dental crisis affecting the South Lakes.

Last November, following pressure from Tim, health bosses agreed to increase contracts of local NHS Dental practices in Kendal so they could see and treat more patients.

However, NHS England now say that no-one took up their offer because "the practices are already working to capacity within the staffing resources they have available, reporting they are having difficulties recruiting additional staff."

Tim has now written to the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, encouraging him to improve NHS contracts to encourage dentists not to go private.

According to the British Dental Association, less than half of all adults in Cumbria have seen an NHS dentist in the last 2 years.

Tim said: "The situation has now reached breaking point.

"Over the past 3 days alone l have received 5 letters from elderly residents, all in their 80s, asking where they can go for dental treatment, as their current dentist has now gone private.

"The Government must address this crisis now by investing in making NHS contracts more attractive so that we have a greater number of dentists to tackle the lengthy waiting lists."