Liberal Democrat Councillor launches petition calling for an NHS Dentist for every North Kirklees Resident (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

Liberal Democrat Councillor launches petition calling for an NHS Dentist for every North Kirklees Resident

November 23, 2005 1:45 PM

Healthy Teeth

Cllr Dennis Hullock, Liberal Democrat, Dewsbury East Ward, is launching a petition in Dewsbury this week that calls on Patricia Hewitt MP (Secretary of State for Health) to provide an NHS dentist for every North Kirklees resident who wants one.

Cllr Hullock says: "In March 2005 it was estimated that 31% of the adult and children residents in North Kirklees were listed with an NHS dentist while 23% were privately registered. This means that 46% of all the residents living in North Kirklees potentially have no established or regular dental care provision. If a greater number of NHS dental places were to become available, I am certain that this figure would be significantly lower".

Cllr Hullock also says: "The impact that the lack of NHS dental places for adults is having upon the lives of children in the area cannot be ignored. None of the NHS dentists in the area are currently taking on new adult patients. A parent or guardian who can't access an NHS dentist or afford to "go private" will probably allow their own dental care to lapse, meaning that they will probably attach less importance to the dental health of their children resulting in less frequent trips to the dentist. Recent research has shown that the 5 year olds living in North Kirklees have the second least healthy teeth in the entire of the UK with each child's mouth containing almost 4 missing or decaying teeth. I believe that the lack of sufficient NHS dental places for adults in North Kirklees is responsible for damaging the health of these children."

Cllr Hullock says: "My fellow Liberal Democrat Councillors across Kirklees are equally concerned about the situation in the north. The Group are submitting a motion to Council on the 8th December which would, should it be passed, result in the Council writing to the Government to call for a base contract to be established that will pay dentists for each patient on their list rather than per treatment they carry out. This would encourage more dentists to sign up as NHS practitioners."

Cllr Hullock will be working with local resident Nisar Choudhary this week to circulate the petition to residents living in the Dewsbury area. Nisar and Cllr Hullock urge as many residents as possible to make their feelings felt by completing and returning the petition reply slip.

Alternatively, if residents wish to show there support for the petition, they can write direct to Cllr Dennis Hullock at FREEPOST HF 2401, Huddersfield, HD5 0BR