Norfolk NHS Dentistry Crisis - Almost 20% reject NHS Contracts

10.30.18am GMT Tue 21st Nov 2006

Almost 1 in 5 contracts offered to NHS dentists in Norfolk have been rejected since the new system was introduced, according to new figures obtained by North Norfolk Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb.

27 out of the 143 NHS dental contracts offered were rejected before the new system came into being on 1st April this year. There are also a number of contracts still in dispute throughout the county.

In addition to increasing the pressure on remaining NHS practices in the county, there are concerns that the significant numbers refusing to sign the new contract will result in people in rural areas having to travel long distances for treatment. The local Strategic Health Authority (SHA) claims the lost capacity has largely been replaced, but the decline in NHS practices often means that local people have to go much further to access treatment.

Norman Lamb MP said:

"I was shocked to see exactly how many practitioners have gone private in such a short time frame. We are clearly facing a dentistry crisis in Norfolk and I am concerned the situation will only get worse."

"When the new contracts were introduced we were told they would improve access to treatment. I'm now regularly contacted by constituents who simply cannot find a NHS dentist within a reasonable travelling distance, so this clearly doesn't seem to ring true."