| BELOW: Listen to Terry Scriven being interviewed by Julian Clegg on BBC Radio Solent on Thursday 03rd December 2009 |
 The Liberal Democrat Prospective Member of Parliament for New Forest East, Colonel Terry Scriven, is leading the fight to improve NHS dental services in the area.
Terry Scriven originally took up the problem of the lack of NHS dentists in the New Forest two years ago, challenging the then Chief Executive of the New Forest Primary Care Trust to improve the service.
Latest figures, obtained by Terry Scriven show that access to NHS dentistry has improved and is getting better.
However, the real problem is that local people are now unable to get the treatment they need, unless they are able to pay for it privately.
Terry says, “NHS Dentistry in the New Forest area is in a sorry state. When it comes to the ability of local people to get NHS treatment for the basics, like extractions, fillings and root canal work, this area is rated as one of the worst in the country.
The Hampshire Primary Care Trust which now covers the New Forest was placed 139th out of the 152 Trusts in England.
For more complex work such as crowns, dentures and bridges, the situation is even worse.
The Hampshire PCT was rated 151st out of 152.”
Terry Scriven has met with the Vice Chair of the General Dental Practise Committee (British Dental Association) and is pressing for a meeting with Richard Popplewell, the Interim Chief Executive of Hampshire Primary Care Trust.
He wants the Primary Care Trust to ensure that local people are given a fair share of £2,257 million that central government have allocated for dentistry work.
Terry Scriven adds “I have been pressing the health authorities to provide better access to NHS dentistry for over two years.
They are now achieving this, but significantly failing to deliver the treatment people need.
I also want to persuade bosses at the NHS not to waste taxpayer’s money on fighting legal challenges to the community’s wish not to have fluoride in tap water.
Every penny should be spent on front line health care and not on legal battles.”
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