Dentistry programme leaves more than a bad taste in the mouth

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 19th Feb 2008

Speaking ahead of tonight's edition of "Week in Week Out" on BBC1 Wales, Welsh Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Jenny Randerson AM has repeated her calls to rip up the new dental contract and start again.

Jenny Randerson, who takes part in the programme said: "We warned from the start that this contract wouldn't work. Although it has seen a marginal increase in the number of NHS dentists in wales, the evidence unearthed by the BBC shows clearly that because the contract is so unsatisfactory, some dentists are discriminating against those who require a great deal of dental work. These are the very people who are often from poorer sections of the community who most urgently need dental treatment and should be most strongly encouraged to visit the dentist. The contract is causing a dental divide.

"This is creating even more of a two tier dental system then we had in the past with those in the greatest need still finding it very difficult, if not impossible to get an NHS dentist. We have the worst dental decay in the UK and this will do nothing to improve the situation, in fact it could be making it even worse.

"The BBC also uncovered evidence of a small minority of dentists charging patients extra for private treatment which should be covered by the current contract, and LHBs seemingly turning a blind eye to this. This is unacceptable, we need a new contract which is significantly different from the current one and provides a higher standard of care for patients and ensures that dentists are attracted to work in the NHS."

Notes:

1 Week in Week Out is shown tonight (19.2) on BBC1 Wales

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