Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has spoken up in Westminster for residents who are facing considerable delays waiting for dental care in the city.
Recent analysis by the Liberal Democrats of NHS data has revealed that 540 patients were seen at the Royal United Hospital with tooth decay in 2023.
The majority of these patients, 399, were children.
During a Westminster Hall debate led by fellow Liberal Democrat MP Richard Foord, on NHS Dentistry in the South West, Mrs Hobhouse argued that routine check-ups were essential for preventing serious dental issues from arising as well as reducing the strain on NHS Accident & Emergency departments.
The city’s MP said that the high rates of admission were largely caused by patients being unable to access routine preventative care, leaving them to turn to A&E for treatment that could have been managed earlier.
She said this created considerable costs for the NHS, whose resources should be dedicated to resolving emergencies rather than tackling preventable issues.
MP Richard Foord agreed with Wera Hobhouse’s assessment and suggested that the lack of NHS dentistry provision in the South West was causing patients to turn to emergency care for “the routine”.
Mrs Hobhouse said: “Everyone deserves access to timely, preventative dental care. But the shameful ‘dental desert’ in Bath and across the South West means that patients who are being made to wait far too long for a routine check-up are left with no option but to visit A&E.
“While patients with tooth decay are understandably turning to emergency services in serious agony, this puts pressure on the NHS’ already scarce resources.
“That’s why it is critical that we tackle the gaps in NHS dental provision so that patients can get the care they need, when they need it.
“I was proud to see many of my Liberal Democrat colleagues, who represent constituencies in the South West, championing this cause and pushing to improve access to NHS dental care across our communities.
“Residents in Bath can rest assured that I will not stop fighting for better care.”
