In Bristol, the opening of a new NHS dental practice has highlighted the dire state of dental care in the UK, with hundreds of residents queuing for hours to register as patients. The situation has sparked a political debate, with Labour criticizing the Conservative Party's handling of NHS dentistry over the past 14 years. Labour has proposed a fully funded plan to address the crisis, promising 700,000 emergency appointments and the recruitment of new dentists in areas of greatest need. The government, represented by Health Secretary Victoria Atkins MP, has acknowledged the issue and is set to unveil a dental recovery plan, which includes £20,000 'golden hellos' as cash incentives for dentists to take on NHS patients and work in underserved areas, as well as dental teams being sent to schools. The plan also aims to create over 2.5 million extra appointments and deploy dental vans in rural and coastal communities. However, the leaked details of the government's plan have led to accusations from Labour that the Conservatives are copying their proposals. The crisis in NHS dentistry has been linked to austerity measures and funding cuts since 2010, rather than the pandemic as suggested by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and some Conservative MPs.
14 years of Conservative government have left NHS dentistry in crisis. Those who can afford it are going private, those who can’t left in a poor service for poor people. Only Labour can get our NHS back on its feet so it’s there for you when you need it 👇🏻 https://t.co/5IrFR0Um9r
.@RishiSunak just doesn’t get it. The same lines roll off his tongue. Accept you’ve failed when it comes to NHS dentistry and find a real recovery plan. The contract MUST be reformed! https://t.co/bT31Gr9OXX
After 14 years of the Tories, NHS dentistry is in crisis. Only Labour will get the NHS back on its feet. https://t.co/DOjLLKQQCv
Thank you @PaddyMcGuinness. You really didn’t get it wrong. You captured the absurdity of a system that’s fuelling a crisis hurting millions. The PM promised to ‘restore’ NHS dentistry. We’re still waiting… SIGN & SHARE this petition to Rishi Sunak. https://t.co/2FfPt0VagG https://t.co/7iIzNuP8wm
🚨 NEW: Rishi Sunak has refused to say when he last tried to get an NHS dentist appointment https://t.co/kbjXrMYO4W
The dentist Rishi Sunak visited in Cornwall to promote his "recovery plan" is not accepting new NHS patients, it has emerged. 🔗 Read more https://t.co/RIHQuTIjY4
Rishi Sunak says getting an NHS dentist is too difficult https://t.co/m975bqhNqN
Today Rishi Sunak was promoting his plan for NHS dentistry in a practice that isn’t taking on new adult NHS patients. He was seeing what life is like for millions. The difference is he has options. A🧵 https://t.co/QMKUIxIuj4
Government's £200m plan to revive NHS dentistry is a 'kick in the teeth' https://t.co/WKqVvn1AUQ https://t.co/ib85TgNgWg
The dental practice Rishi Sunak visited in Cornwall to promote his Government’s dentistry plan is not accepting new adult NHS patients ✍️: @sophie_wing8 https://t.co/lTUopXAy4i
A number of NHS dentists across #Erewash have recently retired, leaving a cohort of residents without access to NHS dentistry. In #Parliament I asked the Health Secretary how the #NHSDentalRecoveryPlan will speed up the recruitment of NHS dentists. My question can be viewed 👇 https://t.co/8fumTfhoqM
🌟 WE NEED NEW NHS DENTISTS IN PETERBOROUGH 🌟 I have a plan to open new NHS dental practices in #Peterborough. The national announcement of £20k incentives and increased UDA rates will help. I shall meet with the Minster to make sure Peterborough benefits from this plan 💙 https://t.co/b8t5hvAzVM
Downing Street insists it was a “deliberate” choice for Rishi Sunak to visit a dentist that isn’t accepting new NHS adult patients https://t.co/mJdjYxAMC8
Dentists and doctors have criticised the government’s plan to revive NHS #dentistry in England, which they said failed to tackle systemic problems that deny access to timely treatment https://t.co/1CyFTfrI96
Dentists visited by Rishi Sunak in campaign stunt isn't accepting new NHS adult patients https://t.co/63EmdAfS1X
Dentists visited by Rishi Sunak for campaign stunt isn't accepting new NHS adult patients https://t.co/b2X4qa13EL
As @TheBDA has said, the Conservatives’ “recovery plan” is “simply not enough to save this service”. Labour has a fully funded plan to rescue NHS dentistry with 700,000 emergency appointments and new dentists where they’re needed the most👇🏻 https://t.co/WlTDYjMd84
📸The Government unveiling its plan to reform NHS dentistry… If you want this service to actually have a future sign our petition to Rishi Sunak. @38degrees @DailyMirror 👉 https://t.co/2FfPt0VagG https://t.co/jcK4ZNJWxE
Ever wonder why you can't see a GP or get hospital treatment? An NHS dentist opens in Bristol & the queue for an appointment stretches hundreds of yards. They are overwhelmingly immigrants. With bitter irony at the back of the queue are white people. https://t.co/TNg3iTXWQ6
Spending on NHS dentistry has fallen by more than a third in real terms since 2010 People are now being forced to pull out their own teeth at home because they can’t access or afford an NHS dentist In other news Rishi Sunak blames the crisis in NHS dentistry on the pandemic👇 https://t.co/BWjsmIyFNh
Don't think @JohnLewisEU muting a thread because people point out that most of the people queuing for a free NHS dentist are gimmigrants, is going to let you off the hook. The follly of mass immigration in one video. A total self own. https://t.co/z5KBxgt8pl
You don’t say! Who would have thought letting 745,000 people in last year would bring public services to breaking point? NHS dentistry crisis exacerbated by immigration, Sunak told https://t.co/wrqhxD2Fh6
🦷 Dentists fear Bristol queues will be repeated across the country. Read more 👇 https://t.co/w6gIUGvc7O
Rishi Sunak won't say if he uses an NHS dentist as crisis hits ordinary families https://t.co/RCvWJ0cIoq
With the government launching the NHS Dental Recovery Plan, one in four Britons (24%) are not registered with a dentist, and 56% of people say it is difficult to find a place at an NHS dentist in their local area https://t.co/ks1lPQme6y / https://t.co/DbK9E0DwsS https://t.co/VpqQ3G0q4n
Excellent news that the Government is making it easier to get an NHS dentist. I'm contacting local practices to encourage them to participate https://t.co/07AZwCpGge
The @DailyMirror and @TheBDA have launched a petition calling on the Government to save NHS dentistry as millions are unable to get appointments You can sign it here 📝 https://t.co/vxqMBHjSRh
🦷 "We must remember that dental health is linked to health and wellbeing... It’s intolerable." After the closure of a Bupa surgery last June, hundreds of Bristolians are desperate to register for the new practice ⬇️ https://t.co/grcipKGBAH
Dentistry isn't working. After 14 years of Tory decline, this is the Britain we live in today. Labour has a fully funded plan to rescue NHS dentistry with 700,000 emergency appointments and new dentists where they're needed the most https://t.co/9tzDZph7vF
New NHS dentist stops enrolling patients in Bristol as six-hour-long around-the-block queue disperses https://t.co/4ejgLfQL1m
The NHS Dental Recovery Plan is fantastic news for the #MiltonKeynes residents I've been fighting hard for in meetings with the Dental Minister. ☑️ More dentists ☑️ More appointments ☑️ More incentives We're getting on with the job 🦷 https://t.co/5p1hEaRtxB
NO @RishiSunak the crisis in UK dentistry has been caused by Tory austerity & savage cuts to funding for NHS dental services in real terms since 2010 - NOT the pandemic https://t.co/BWjsmIyFNh
As Health Secretary nods in approval @RishiSunak blames the crisis in dentistry on the pandemic IN FACT THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER IN UK DENTISTRY IS TORY AUSTERITY & SAVAGE SLASHING OF FUNDING FOR NHS DENTAL SERVICES IN REAL TERMS SINCE 2010 If you think public should know RT https://t.co/EpillNOHAI
📢@DHSCgovuk have announced their Dental Recovery Plan Having met with the Dentistry Minister @andrealeadsom about dentistry in #NDevon, I warmly welcome: 🦷2.5 million extra appointments 🦷Dental vans for rural/coastal communities For more info: https://t.co/yFPkKg7B28 https://t.co/73aZLqI8Rr
This week we have seen hundreds of people desperate for an NHS dentist appointment queuing for hours when a new practice opened in Bristol. In Harrow, over 56% of dental practices (that answered) are refusing to take on new adult NHS patients. (1/2) https://t.co/M3UKdJAipb
The Tories have finally acknowledged the crisis in NHS dentistry and published their dental 'recovery plan'. But what do they think NHS dentistry needs to 'recover' from? 14 years of Tory government has left people forced to pull out their own teeth with pliers. #PMQs
🔴 Health Secretary @VictoriaAtkins is making a statement on "Our Plan to Recover and Reform NHS dentistry". Watch live ⬇️
Rishi Sunak blaming everyone else for the lack of NHS dentists after 14 years of Conservative government. He’ll be blaming the tooth fairy next! #PMQs
14 years in power. The Tories have failed on dentistry and so much else. The only way to turn the page on this and start to rebuild is to vote them out. https://t.co/hTWtJnxxt2
Sir Keir Starmer asks Rishi Sunak to choose between 'more NHS appointments or more tax avoidance'. "We know what side we're on - why doesn't he?" #PMQs https://t.co/ZTbv6x8cal 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/bSPkkBlk5i
The Government has finally acknowledged the crisis in NHS dentistry – calling it a “recovery plan”. After 14 years of Tory government, people forced to pull out their own teeth with pliers, what exactly do they think NHS dentistry needs to ‘recover’ from? #PMQs
"What exactly does he think the NHS dentistry is recovering from?" Keir Starmer asks the PM Rishi Sunak says "he conveniently forgets the impact of a pandemic" #PMQs https://t.co/7KJXdr3cMW https://t.co/hfj2STlDqy
It’s not because of Covid that 11 million can’t get an NHS dentist appointment and it’s deeply disingenuous of Rishi Sunak to claim it is. Look instead at 14 years of Tory erosion of the NHS #nhs #pmqs
Rishi Sunak blaming the pandemic for the lack of NHS dentists. What’s he going to blame next, the war in Ukraine? The reason NHS dentistry is so bad is because of 14 years of Conservative government. #PMQs
The government is planning to offer dentists cash incentives to take on new NHS patients and work in areas that are under-served Read more🔗 https://t.co/Lzj20uOaSB
The Government's dental recovery plan is nothing but a kick in the teeth to everyone in the profession, their patients and campaigners. Let the prime minister know it's time to bring NHS dentistry into the 21st century - add your name: https://t.co/9SOEGhO1yp 🦷✍🏼⬆️ https://t.co/HIh8LFnPmF
Decent dental services should be available to all on the NHS. The Tories have destroyed NHS dentistry, leaving my constituents in agony and out of pocket ⬇️ https://t.co/GpOWInFy5v
I’m delighted to see the launch of the Government’s new NHS Dental Recovery Plan which will enable 2.5 million additional NHS dental appointments over the next year to help people get the care they need. I’ve raised dentistry time and again in Parliament on behalf of… https://t.co/Y067rv5hsu
The Government will offer £20,000 to dentists to work in poorer neighbourhoods with limited NHS access. Will this help the millions who can't access an NHS dentist? And tell us your worst experience getting dental care. 📞 0344 499 1000 @JuliaHB1 https://t.co/jMAQ5ehyEO
Queues for dentists would be repeated around the country if dental practices were able to take on new NHS patients, experts have said ✍️: @ellapickover https://t.co/FvCVMrp3Gs
We're making it easier to see an NHS dentist through our new reform plan which includes: 🦷 more than 2.5 million extra appointments 🦷 dental vans for rural and coastal communities 🦷 financial incentives for dentists to work in areas most in need https://t.co/DGAXfGmmfI
'People are queuing because they are desperate' As the Government announce a plan for dentists in England, Labour's Wes Streeting spoke to #BBCBreakfast from a dental practice in Bristol where people have been queuing for the last three days to register https://t.co/nQjndu2IS8 https://t.co/oqZ8U8qFgk
Tory Govt stood by while NHS dentistry all but disappeared It's woken up to the fact it left millions unable to get an NHS appointment, patients resorting to DIY dentistry & widespread tooth decay #NHSDentalRecoveryPlan is long overdue but unlikely to repair 14 years of damage
We urgently need a Labour Government to fix the NHS dentistry disaster in our country and start to undo years of Tory neglect and mismanagement. https://t.co/kOhohrm3iu
‘The plan ensures that we’re getting dental care faster, shorter and fairer to those that really need it.’ Victoria Atkins MP details the government’s plan to offer dentists cash incentives to take on extra NHS patients and send teams to schools to treat children's teeth. https://t.co/Mh13DhHpnZ
Dentists to be offered cash incentives to treat NHS patients and work in under-served areas Read more🔗 https://t.co/RYgSdLsYIO
Dentists are to be offered cash to take on new patients and given “golden hellos” to work in communities with a lack of NHS dental services, according to leaked plans ✍: @ellapickover https://t.co/zw3dhaA5Ej
Dentists to be paid £20,000 to take on NHS patients in plan to tackle 'dental deserts' https://t.co/3dnLksiydW
🚨 NEW: The govt has accidentally leaked its own dentistry plan by emailing it to MPs of all parties Dentists will be offered cash incentives to take on NHS patients & teams will be sent to schools Labour has accused the Tories of identically copying their plan [@BBCNews]
Dentists to get cash incentives for NHS patients https://t.co/gyx0r9Jugr
I know that many of my constituents face huge waits for a dental appointment. After 14 years of Tory decline, this is the Britain we live in today. Labour has a fully funded plan to rescue NHS dentistry with 700,000 emergency appointments and new dentists across the country. https://t.co/2I536LXc4a
EXCL: The govt is preparing to offer dentists cash incentives to take on NHS patients and send teams to schools to treat children's teeth, it has emerged Ministers will unveil the dental recovery plan tomorrow but details were inadvertently sent to MPs of all parties today…
BREAKING The government's forthcoming 'dentistry recovery plan' - a desperate bid to do anything to improve the NHS dentistry mess before election - will seek to ringfence funding .... just three months after the NHS was given the green light to raid it to reduce deficits…
Jarrow constituents unable to get a Dentist appt & even if you're lucky enough to get one- its unaffordable. We can't rely on Tories to fix the crisis in #NHS dentistry. @UKLabour has a plan to rescue NHS dentistry with 700k emergency appts & new dentists where needed most. https://t.co/zg4wHtwMvc
Labour has a fully funded plan to rescue NHS dentistry with 700,000 emergency appointments and new dentists where they're needed the most https://t.co/f1V3av6FSO
🔴 People queued from the crack of dawn outside a new NHS dental practice in Bristol on day two of its opening. Hundreds lined up in a scene that said much about the difficulties people face in seeing an NHS dentist. Read more here ⬇️ https://t.co/quAuaSE9o5 https://t.co/RXptR5mUDK
'These long queues today and yesterday are symptomatic of what's happening up and down the country' Shadow Culture Secretary and MP for Bristol West @ThangamMP tells @itvwestcountry 'it's just not good enough' that people are queuing for days to try and get an NHS dentist https://t.co/VpjQ3cucC6
People queuing, in Bristol, to try & register for an NHS dentist. 😲 #PoliticsLive https://t.co/HuWR1zl6xw
📷 The second day of queues for people in St. Paul's, Bristol, as they try to register as NHS patients at a new dental practice Labour says the queue 'lays bare the state of dentistry after 14 years of the Conservatives' The Tories say a new plan for dentistry is on its way... https://t.co/KH4JWAsLrp
Yesterday, 100s people desperate for an NHS dentist queued for hrs when a new practice opened in St Paul's in Bristol West - one I campaigned for. @UKLabour has a fully funded plan to rescue NHS dentistry with 700,000 emergency appointments & new dentists where needed the most. https://t.co/DBsPCyMkqL