Plaid Cymru Senedd Member Lindsay Whittle quizzed the First Minister today over the NHS Wales dental crisis.
Plaid Cymru Senedd Member Lindsay Whittle quizzed the First Minister today over the NHS Wales dental crisis.
Lindsay Whittle, who represents Caerphilly, said: “Thirty-five dentists have quit the NHS contracts across Wales in the last 12 months, 10 of them in the Aneurin Bevan Health Board ,which covers Caerphilly. This is before the new dental contract even comes into force next month.
“The single biggest issue raised with me by constituents is dentistry, with many being told they must go private to retain their regular dentists. For most people this is a big extra cost as they will struggle to afford, if they can afford it at all.”
“I can understand the genuine good intentions behind the new contract. But are you concerned that this new contract may be unworkable before it has even arrived? What has your government done in the final weeks of this Senedd term, to avert this growing crisis? With respect, your figures don’t tally with my email box.”
The First Minister said the new contract had not yet started yet but at a time when the cost of living is really impacting on people it will work out cheaper for patients and fairer for dentists. “ Only about six percent of dental contracts have been handed back.”
A Freedom of Information request revealed.that 10 dentists had given notice to terminate their contracts in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (UHB) area in 2025-26 with nine in Betsi Cadwaladar UHB and six in Cwm Taf UHB, according to information supplied to Lindsay Whittle by Senedd researchers.
- People can access the NHS Wales Dental Portal to check where they are best able to access NHS services.”
- The link to the dental portal is https://dhcw.nhs.wales/product-directory/our-digital-services/dental-access-portal/