February 13^th

PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR INFORMED

OF DECLINING NHS DENTISTS

IN BRIDGEND CONSTITUENCY

Bridgend MP Madeleine Moon has taken the current issue of declining NHS Dentists in the Bridgend Constituency straight to the Prime Minister.

Mrs Moon stated:

 “I have had many letters from constituents complaining that they are no longer registered with an NHS Dentist and are having difficulties obtaining NHS dental treatment. During a recent meeting with the Prime Minister I took the opportunity to raise the problems being experienced by constituents.”

Mrs Moon continued: “I have now received a letter from Brian Gibbons AM, who is the Minister for Health and Social Services at the Welsh Assembly Government, with further information on the dental contract in Wales.  The letter also stated that he understands I have spoken to the Prime Minister regarding the issue of NHS dentistry in the Bridgend constituency and that the Prime Minister’s Personal Private Secretary (PPS)  has written to him requesting that any correspondence be copied to No. 10. And that the PM’s office also wishes to be kept informed of any developments.”

Mrs Moon added that the letter from Brian Gibbons AM went on to state:

  “…….there has been further expansion to the Personal Dental Scheme (PDS) pilot schemes which have now secured NHS provision for some 385,000 patients and are providing extra capacity for an additional 111,000 NHS patients across Wales.   To date Bridgend Local Health Board (LHB) has had two PDS applications approved, and have another six proposals which are currently being assessed. I understand that senior Assembly Government officials recently had a very constructive meeting with the Chief Executive of Bridgend LHB to discuss a number of issues about the provision of NHS dental services in their area and as a result of that I am confident that some of the PDS pilot scheme proposals will quickly come to fruition to help secure and improve dental access in your constituency.”

I have sent a copy of the letter, from Brian Gibbons AM, to all those constituents who contacted me regarding the NHS Dentists situation in the Bridgend constituency, stated Mrs Moon.