Tories slam town's dental bills (From Warrington Guardian)

Tories slam town's dental bills

4:58pm Tuesday 23rd June 2009 in News By Joanna Lean

LAST year 147 Warrington people received emergency dental treatment in hospital, costing NHS Warrington an estimated £87,553.

The figures, revealed by the Conservatives, also showed that 37 per cent of Warrington residents have not seen an NHS dentist in the last 24 months.

The percentage equates to 123,501 people, and includes those visiting private dentists.

The Conservatives say they will scrap current dental contracts and reward preventative care.

They also pledge to use money currently spent on unnecessary treatments to reintroduce dental screening for children in schools, and promise that taxpayer-trained dentists work for the NHS for at least five years.

Warrington North MP hopeful Paul Campbell said: “It comes as no surprise that 147 people have been forced to hospital last year for emergency dental care – straining our over-stretched A&E departments still further.

“We need to cut out Labour’s waste and bureaucracy in NHS dentistry and restore access to an NHS dentist to the million who have lost one under this Government.”

Earlier this month pupils at Bewsey Primary School were given free toothbrushes as part of a drive to improve oral health.