A number of dentists gathered at Belfast CIty Hall today protesting a move by the Health Minister which they say signals ‘the end of NHS dentistry’. Speaking at the protest, People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll called on the Health minister to intervene urgently, to prevent further privatisation, and boost investment where it’s sorely needed.
Gerry said:
“Dentists are sounding an alarm, warning that they may be forced to stop NHS provision entirely. This is a clear result of years of underfunding, creeping privatisation, and moves from the Health Minister which dentists protesting today say are not financially viable at all.
“The result is that people in my constituency and working class communities are unable to find local NHS dental services and are utterly priced out of private care. It is unbelievable in 2022, in a wealthy country, that people are dealing with dental rot because of lack of investment.
“These dentists recognise their patients are facing a cost of living crisis and they want to be able to provide NHS care. The costs of providing that care are rising steeply, however, and successive health ministers have failed to pay out enough to enable them to continue providing it. Dental earnings have fallen by 40% since 2008 alone.
“I fully support the dentists sounding the alarm, and echo their call to the Health Minister to intervene.”
ENDS