The Forest of Dean Labour Party has been ringing round all the Dental Practices in the area today and finds that no dentists are accepting any new NHS patients. Yet the latest campaigning from Mark Harper is talking about how the Conservatives are improving access to dentistry.

“After 14 years of decline, this is too little too late” say local Labour Party activists.  “It’s laughable that the MP for the area is claiming on his social media that, quote “the benefits of the National Dental Recovery Plan already having an impact in Gloucestershire and look forward to seeing its continuous progress and benefits for everyone.” (sic source Mark Harper Facebook 16 February 2024)

There are many families in the Forest of Dean who cannot see a dentist at all. One constituent contacted the Labour Party to say they had to travel out of the county for treatment for a long time, until they found “a dentist assistant in Gloucester. I dread to think what will happen when I become immobile and can’t get to the bus stop. Its madness.”

“Children in the Forest of Dean are being admitted to hospital because of rotten teeth, it’s like a return to Victorian Britain” a Labour spokesperson said. “After the recent byelection victories for Labour, we are desperate for a general election so that we can give local people the opportunity to have a Labour MP.  We have a plan to rescue NHS dentistry with:

✅ 700,000 more appointments a year

✅ Targeted dentist recruitment scheme to end dental deserts

✅ supervised toothbrushing in schools

Mark Harper may be able to afford private dental care, but most people cannot.