Labour government hindering access to dentists - Kirsty Williams

9.43.47am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 29th Aug 2006

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has expressed her concern that plans for a new dental surgery in Presteigne could come to nothing, because of the way the Welsh Assembly Government allocates funding.

Local Powys County Councillor Garry Banks, who first brought the matter to Ms Williams attention, has been working hard to try and source an NHS dentist for Presteigne, but has found the funding arrangements pose a massive stumbling block.

Ms Williams said: "The Labour Assembly Government has allocated money for dentistry based on spending per head of population - a formula which disadvantages areas such as Powys, as it fails to take into account sparcity of population or rurality. This constituency has managed to be quite successful in attracting dentists to the area, and the situation has improved in some areas, but far too many constituents are still left without easy access to a dentist.

"The people of Presteigne currently have to travel some distance to access NHS dental treatment. I understand that a suitable site for a surgery has been identified, and that a dentist could be found, if only the funding were made available. I have written to the Health Minister to plead Presteigne's case, and hope that he will give these proposals his full consideration."

Notes:

The Assembly Government announced in June that £3million was to be allocated to improve access to dentistry, but stated Powys LHB would be unable to bid for any share of this funding because it had already significantly increased its level of NHS provision.

An application was made several years ago to build a dental surgery on the industrial estate by the Presteigne by-pass. This application would still be valid for any prospective dentist wishing to establish a practice in the area.

There has not been a dentist in Presteigne for a number of years, but the last one practicing in the town was believed to have a patient list of 2,500.