Shocking investigation reveals no dental practices in Cumbria are accepting new NHS patients

In a shocking investigation of dentistry services across the UK, analysis by the BBC has found that 100% of dentistry practices in Cumbria are not accepting any new NHS patients.

Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has demanded a Health Minister visit dentistry practices in the county to see for themselves how bad the situation is.

Tim also wants the Minister to meet with local people who have been forced to wait in agony for months due to a lack of NHS dentist appointments.

The figures were released alongside harrowing accounts of DIY dentistry as hard-working families and pensioners struggle to find the affordable care that they need.

Meanwhile earlier this summer it was also revealed that only a third of all adults and less than half of all children in Cumbria have been seen by an NHS dentist in the last two years.

Tim said: "People in our area should know if they are in pain or face a health emergency that the NHS is there for them. Yet these scandalous figures prove NHS dentistry in Cumbria is at breaking point.

"Our NHS dental system is broken because this Government has failed to stump up the cash.

"People are being forced to spend hundreds if not thousands of pounds on private dental care with some even resorting to their own at-home DIY dentistry.

"The fault for this lies solely with the Conservative Government. They have done next to nothing to tackle this crisis.

"I demand Health Ministers to visit Cumbria and meet with local dentists and patients to hear just how bad things are here.

"It is high time that the NHS dentist contract were reformed and plans brought forward to recruit more local NHS dentists, so no matter where you live you know you can get the NHS dental care you need."