Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:14 pm on 16 July 2019.
Thank you very much. Recently, Rhun ap Iorwerth requested a debate on dentistry, and, in response, you said that the Minister for health may consider that. May I also echo that demand for a debate on dentistry, please, and that we have that early in the new term, and may I just explain why I’m making that call? The situation of dentistry in my constituency is very grave indeed. There isn’t a single practice in Arfon taking new patients on the NHS, not one taking adult patients, not one taking children, and not a single dentist taking children and young people with learning disabilities. My constituency is no exception. There are at least eight others in a similar situation. Clearly, that’s not acceptable and we need urgent action in terms of the contract and the cap, and the recommendations of the health committee need to be taken into account. As a long-term solution, the Government needs to look at training dentists in north Wales in Bangor, building on the medical training that's to commence there in September. So, I would welcome a debate so that we can air all of the problems that exist around dentistry in Wales at the moment.