Early day motion · EDM 279 · 4 Jun 2026

NHS dentistry

Tabled by Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat) 30 signatures

The motion

That this House notes the shocking state of NHS dentistry across the country; raises once again the all too common cases of DIY tooth extractions and patients forced to attend A&E due to dental pain; highlights the worrying rates of access for children, with over 5 million children not seeing a dentist last year; regrets that once again these issues must be raised while meaningful action to bring about wholesale change in NHS dentistry has not occurred; stresses the need to invest in NHS dentistry; expresses concern over the Government's revision of the definition of an urgent dental appointment; questions whether the Government is moving the goalposts on their pledge to provide 700,000 urgent dental appointments, while figures suggest that only one seventh of this target has been delivered so far; and calls on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to end dental deserts and ensure everyone can access an urgent appointment when they need it.