Labour’s plan to rescue NHS dentistry and provide 700,000 new appointments
Under the Tories, NHS dentistry is in decline. The General Election is the last chance to stop the rot and save NHS dentistry from the Conservatives’ plan to introduce a dental insurance system.
Getting an NHS dentist is increasingly a lottery and the consequences are dire. The most common reason children aged five to nine are admitted to hospital is to have rotting teeth removed.
Millions of people are unable to get the appointments they need and one in 10 are even attempting their own DIY dentistry.
As part of the mission to build an NHS fit for the future, Labour will tackle the immediate crisis with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most.
To rebuild dentistry for the long term, Labour will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focusing on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists. We will also introduce a supervised tooth-brushing scheme for 3- to 5-year-olds, targeting the areas of highest need.
Labour’s Dentistry Rescue Plan
- Fill the gap of appointments with an extra 700,000 urgent and emergency dental appointments a year
- Flood dental deserts with new dentistry graduates, with golden hellos of £20,000 for those who spend at least three years working in underserved areas
- Supervised toothbrushing for 3- to 5-year-olds, to prevent children forced to hospital to have their rotting teeth pulled out
- Reform of the dental contract, to rebuild NHS dentistry and make sure everyone who needs a dentist can get one.
This plan is fully-funded from closing further non-dom tax loopholes and investment in reducing tax avoidance.
It’s time to stop the rot. Change will only happen on Thursday 4 July if you vote for it.
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