PATIENTS' ACCESS TO DENTISTS

Early day motion 1797, tabled 13 March 2006 by Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 35 members.

That this House recognises the current anomaly regarding the public's rights of access to NHS dental care and dentists' right to refuse patients; believes that this situation will be resolved by increasing the number of dental care providers and, crucially, retaining those currently working within the NHS; acknowledges that many dental practitioners are concerned that the new contract will replace one treadmill with another treadmill, namely a fee per item system will be replaced by a units of dental activity system; and calls on the Government to introduce a contract which does not expect practitioners to work under unreasonable time pressures, which would greatly help to improve current problems of access.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 20, Conservative 7, DUP 5, Labour 1, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.