Speaking in the House of Commons this week, Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely demanded that the Government get dentists into the UK from India to ease the current shortage of dental health professionals.
Mr Seely believed the Government should seek to recruit 1,000 additional dentists within 12 months.
The Isle of Wight MP said:
“This could specifically target the Indian subcontinent, which, according to all the dentists and dental experts I speak to, produces a very high standard of dentists and overproduces the number of dentists it needs.
“We are not talking about depriving another country of its dentists; we are talking about getting a job lot of 1,000 subcontinent dentists who speak English and who are very well trained. Some of them will be eager to work in this country, and we will get them here now.”
Bob also spoke movingly about the difficulties Isle of Wight residents have in accessing dental services on the NHS. He said:
“Islanders are facing a serious dentistry issue. It is now almost impossible to find an NHS dentist on the Island if you do not already have one. Some Islanders have written to me about having to go into the mainland as far as Surrey. That stretches a family budget, because we have some of the most expensive ferries on the planet, so it is a painful decision.
Article continues below this advertisement “85% of dental practices across the country are closed to new patients, and seven out of 10 people find it difficult to access an NHS dentist.”
Mr Seely raised the tragic case of Natalie Blandford, first reported in Island Echo. He said:
“In 2020, 2,700 Brits lost their lives to mouth cancer. The lack of dental appointments means that we will not be able to spot those cancers early on, so those figures are likely to increase. We had a case on the Isle of Wight of somebody who was sadly diagnosed late and then misdiagnosed, who now has untreatable cancer.”
In reply to Bob’s points, Health Minister Maria Caulfield said the Government was exploring changes that would really open up dentistry to those who are overseas trained.
What the hell is this guy spouting on about…. years of tory cuts and no more free treatment for many low paid workers and the dentists got away with charging huge amounts of money for even simple treatments. I didn’t see any tories, or labour for that matter trying to bring in tougher regulation on pricing.
He needs to do his homework.
Dental industry in India is in crisis cos dentists don’t want to work in the public sector, all the new recruits go to the private sector.
Sound familiar?
Brexit means Brexit. No going back
That’s right. All the East European dentists who used to form the backbone of NHS dentistry have “gone back”. Anyone see a connection? Not Bob, obviously.
Why would we want health care when we can have Brexit?
‘Bob demands’ that’ll do it.
Good luck with that then …..
My NHS dentist , won’t do a very necessary treatment , I have to pay him as a private patient!!!!!!
So whilst I am having treatment how many NHS patients are being pushed out / back …
Alas I need the treatment!!!!!
Some one needs to tell half sausage Bob that Brexit stopped workers coming to this Country !!
And now Bembridge Dental has decided to stop NHS treatments so I’ll be off the list and have to private fees which i can’t afford. Disgrace.
Even our foster child has to go to a private dentist. It’s a disgrace. To be honest, we even struggled to find a private dentist on the island who was taking new patients.