Kensington & Chelsea Has Worst NHS Dentist Provision in London

3.54.22pm GMT Thu 3rd Feb 2005

New figures revealed by Liberal Democrat London Assembly Health spokesperson, Dee Doocey, show that the Kensington & Chelsea Primary Care Trust (PCT) has the lowest percentage of adults and children signed up to an NHS dentist of any London area.

Only 19.4% of local adults and 24.7% of local children are signed up to an NHS dentist.

Jennifer Kingsley, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Kensington & Chelsea, commented:

"The crisis in dental care is nationwide, the crisis in London is particularly bad, and the local figures here in Kensington & Chelsea simply beggar belief.

"It cannot be the case that over 80% of adults in Kensington & Chelsea have made a deliberate decision not to be registered with an NHS dentist for regular check ups. These figures imply that the Labour promise of a NHS free at the point of delivery is only true for those who can find a dentist willing to treat NHS patients."