An NHS Dentist for All

The Government has allowed NHS dental provision in Eastleigh to reach crisis level, with far too many people no longer able to get NHS treatment and some people forced to turn to dangerous DIY dentistry.

According to research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats from the House of Commons library, 48.7% of children in Hampshire had not been seen by an NHS dentist in the year to June 2023. Over 62% of adults in Hampshire have not been seen by an NHS dentist in the past two years.

Eastleigh Borough Council passed a motion on 27th November 2023 calling on the Government to fix the NHS dental crisis. Parliamentary Candidate for Eastleigh, Liz Jarvis, proposed the motion. 

 “Eastleigh, similarly to the rest of the country, is facing an acute NHS dental crisis. Access to NHS dentist appointments is increasingly limited for children and adults in Eastleigh and across Hampshire, which creates additional pressures in other parts of the health service. There are particular concerns about the lack of dental care for children, and the impact this can have on the rest of their lives. Tooth decay is the number one reason for hospital admissions for children aged six to 10. That’s staggering. 

“Residents raise the issue of accessing local NHS dentist appointments with me all the time, and it’s incredibly concerning.

“This Conservative government has shown a total disregard for every aspect of our health service and the people of Eastleigh are bearing the brunt of it. It is incredibly concerning that people are suffering because they can't get appointments and can't afford private treatment.

“Liberal Democrats want the Government to announce an emergency rescue plan for NHS dentistry, including spending any funding that has gone unspent in recent years to boost the number of appointments as well as the removal of VAT on children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste.” 

Liz is campaigning for everyone to be able to be registered with an NHS dentist.