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06
Feb 2023
'Radical reform' needed for North Yorkshire NHS dentists, says councillor
A senior councillor has called for radical reform of NHS dentistry in North Yorkshire amid concern over access to appointments.
Cllr Andrew Lee, chair of North Yorkshire County Council's health scrutiny panel, has written to the government’s health and social committee with evidence over “extremely problematic” access to dentists.
The Stray Ferret has highlighted long waiting lists for NHS dentistry in the Harrogate district in recent years.
Cllr Lee has written to Steve Brine MP, chair of the national health committee, who has called for evidence to support a public inquiry into the matter.
Cllr Lee said:
The move comes as North Yorkshire’s health scrutiny committee heard of inequalities in accessing dentists across the county.
For example, in North Yorkshire, Scarborough residents have a greater challenge in accessing dentistry than those in Harrogate, due, in part, to the difference in demographics.
Read more:
- Investigation: ‘Shocking’ waits for NHS dentists in Harrogate district
- Access to NHS dentists in North Yorkshire has ‘got worse’, says MP
However, a review of NHS dentistry published in August 2021 found that there was just one NHS dentist practice per 10,000 people in the Harrogate district.
Cllr Lee added:
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