RESIDENTS have shared their frustration with accessing routine and urgent dental care in St Helens.

Conor McGinn, Labour MP for St Helens North, said that a growing number of his constituents, as well as local dental professionals, have contacted him in regard to the problems within NHS dentistry. 

Much of these complaints have come from long waits for check-ups and barriers to urgent appointments within the NHS, while local dentists have spoken of "rocketing caseloads" and the wider challenges they face.  

Last month, a major report released by the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) laid bare the crisis of access to NHS dentistry nationally, warning that “dental deserts” had formed across the country where residents had no realistic chance of securing appointments. 

This, it said, was in large part shaped by an "exodus" of over 2,000 NHS dentists across England last year – leaving an estimated 4 million people without care nationwide. 

Whilst St Helens CCG was not mentioned in the ADG report, the latest figures from NHS Digital, published August 2021, showed it experienced a 16.6% fall in the number of dentists with NHS activity last year – a fall from 145 in 2019/20 to 121 in 2020/21.   

Amid growing calls for the Government to tackle the crisis, Mr McGinn has urged Ministers to support those working as a dentist within the NHS and "get a grip" on the situation to deliver the essential care residents need.

St Helens Star: St Helens North MP, Conor McGinnSt Helens North MP, Conor McGinn (Image: Conor McGinn MP)

Commenting, Conor McGinn MP said: 

“Hard-working NHS dentists and residents in St Helens Borough are being let down by a Conservative Government that has shamefully allowed gaping holes to form in our NHS dentistry provision.

“Many constituents have contacted me frustrated by long waits and barriers to securing check-ups, registration and urgent appointments, while local dentists have conveyed to me the impossible position they’ve been put in by dwindling resources and rocketing caseloads. The situation is unacceptable. 

“Ministers must get a grip on this mess of their own making and quickly fill the gaps. I’ll keep fighting for our dentists and NHS alongside local health leaders to ensure they get the support needed to deliver care for all our residents.”