Council slams Government over dental care

UNSPENT MONEY SET TO BE RETURNED

- ALISON STEPHENSON

THE Labour leader of Plymouth City Council’s says the Government should be moving “heaven and earth” to encourage more dentists to the city, as the number of people waiting for NHS dental care has more than doubled in four years.

The 21,729 people currently on the waiting list are expected to be “the tip of the iceberg”.

Plymouth residents are said to be resorting to DIY solutions to repair and extract their own teeth when toothache gets too much, city council Cabinet members were told.

Members heard that there was a current underspend of between £7 million and £9 million set aside for NHS dental care in Plymouth but only half of the people entitled to NHS treatment were getting it.

The money is due to be returned to the government through its ‘annual clawback’ but councillors agreed to write to NHS Devon ICB (Integrated Care Board) chair Dr Sarah Wollaston to insist that money be kept in the city.