Member of the Senedd for Monmouth, Peter Fox, has called on the Welsh Government to take immediate action to protect our NHS general dental services.
Following reports that reforms to dental services could see patients moved around dental surgeries in order to receive treatment, Mr Fox has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to express his concerns over the proposals.
The Welsh Government have claimed the proposals would improve access to dental services, but the British Dental Association has said the opposite could happen, and more may be forced to go private.
In his letter, the Monmouth MS highlighted the proposed changes could negatively impact those without transport, and see patients undertaking significant journeys to access treatment, and called on the Welsh Government to take action to allay fears and protect patients in Wales.
Local MS for Monmouth, Peter Fox, has said:
“Once again, we are at a crossroads in Wales where the Welsh Labour Government think they are making things better, but are quite simply going to make things worse.
“These proposals, if approved and introduced, could impact on patients across the whole of Wales, but will have the most effect on those who do not have access to public transport.
“Under these changes, patients living in Chepstow could be sent to Brynmawr for a 9am appointment. This is an extreme example, but is now a very real possibility.
“Patients in Wales have the right to access the dental treatment they deserve, but once again the Welsh Labour Government’s systemic failure and mismanagement of our Health Service is hampering this.
“I know there are dentists who are concerned about these changes, and quite rightly so. There is a consultation running at the moment that ends on 19th June, asking for feedback to these changes, and I would encourage everyone reading this to take part.”
