THE government has been urged to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to fixing South Devon’s ‘painfully inadequate’ NHS dental care

The area’s Liberal democrat MP Caroline Voaden has tabled an amendment to the Health Bill which is currently going through Parliament.

In it, she demands a cast-iron commitment from Health Secretary Yvette Cooper to improve local dental provision, guaranteeing access to an NHS dentist for everyone needing urgent care and ensuring all local children can get NHS checkups.

If accepted, the amendment would force the government to fix local NHS dental provision within one year of the act being passed. Otherwise the Health Secretary would have to appear at a public meeting in South Devon to explain why not.

Ms Voaden, who said adults and children in South Devon had been suffering with ‘painfully inadequate’ NHS dental care, was speaking as the Liberal Democrats launched a campaign for a ‘Dental A&E’ in every community so anyone with a dental issue can get NHS treatment seven days a week.

The party has pledged a dental rescue package to guarantee NHS dentistry for anyone needing urgent or emergency care, along with checkups for children and vulnerable groups like new mothers.

Ms Voaden added: “The crisis in NHS dentistry is a stain on Labour’s conscience. In opposition, they warned the service was at death’s door, yet they’ve done little since taking office to bring it back from the brink.

“The state of NHS dentistry in South Devon is shocking, leaving adults and children in pain without the care they urgently need.

“Yvette Cooper now has a clear choice – back my one-year target to restore local care, or just ignore the crisis like her predecessor and leave people in unacceptable pain, relying on DIY dentistry and painkillers.”