Dental care crisis

NHS dentistry is in a state of total collapse. In Whitefield and across the country, it has become virtually impossible to find a dentist taking on new NHS patients. This "dental desert" leaves thousands of residents—including children under 18—without any access to essential healthcare.

Forcing families to choose between paying for expensive private treatment or suffering in pain is a betrayal of the NHS's founding principles. Without regular check-ups, our children are at risk of preventable tooth decay, infections, and long-term health complications that will eventually put even more pressure on our A&E departments.

We, the undersigned, call on the Government and the local Integrated Care Board (ICB) to:

1. Guarantee immediate NHS dental access for all children under the age of 18 in the Bury area.

2. Reform the NHS Dental Contract to make it viable for local practices to take on new NHS patients.

3. Provide emergency funding to local clinics to clear the backlog of residents currently living without a dentist.

Dental care is not a luxury; it is a human right. Save our NHS dentists.