Yesterday evening, the Government failed to vote for Labour’s Dentistry Rescue Plan in the House of Commons, despite local patients finding it impossible to see a dentist. 

The motion tabled by the Labour Party proposed:  

• 700,000 more urgent appointments, for patients in need of things like fillings and root canals. 
• Incentives for new dentists to work in areas with the greatest need, to tackle the emergence of ‘dental deserts’. 
• Supervised toothbrushing in schools for 3–5-year-olds, targeted at the areas with highest childhood tooth decay. 
• Reform of the dental contract to rebuild the service in the long run, so NHS dentistry is there for all who need it. 

Labour would fund the plan by abolishing the non-dom tax status, a tax break which allows wealthy people who live and work in Britain to pay their taxes overseas. 

Rachael Maskell MP says:
“As another dental practice in York turns private, more patients are left without the dental care they need. Despite taking the Secretary of State for Health to task last month at the Health and Social Care Select Committee, the Government have still failed to publish any plan as to how to save the nation’s teeth.  

“The oral health of our country is in sharp decline with 169 children a day having their teeth extracted, the biggest reason why children attend the NHS, while adults are left for years on waiting lists or denied access to them and 1 in 10 attempting DIY Dentistry.”

Labour has set out a clear plan for NHS Dentistry, costing £111m. Ms Maskell voted to rescue NHS Dentistry in the House of Commons, on a motion set out by Labour, the motion was lost 191-299.