MP Demands More Dental Surgeries

One MP, Andrew Rosindell, has demanded that action be taken in order to increase access to NHS dentists in Havering.

The latest government figures have shown that 41% of people in the area have been unable to see an NHS dentist in the last two years. 11,220 people in the area also lost access to their NHS dentist since 2006.

Rosindell stated that the dental situation is ‘terrible’ with a million people losing access to NHS services in the last three years.

Dentists themselves are also not happy, according to Rosindell, with the current system, which is why more and more are going private.

NHS Havering claim that Rosindell’s statistics misrepresent the reality, where the truth is that residents do not need to be registered in order to be able to see an NHS dentist. Many people are also registered at their place of work rather than within the borough.

They further claimed that Havering services were above the London average for the 2008-9 period and that access is increasing. According to an NHS spokesman, 81% of Havering dentists are accepting new NHS places, and a new NHS practice is opening in Collier Row.

The spokesman added that if you are having trouble finding a dentist you should contact the NHS Havering service on 01708 465058.