Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:09 pm on 28 March 2023.
Good afternoon, First Minister. Today the Welsh Liberal Democrats published a report looking at dentistry, particularly focusing on our concern around two-tier dentistry—and I do make no apology in using that term. We have a system at the moment that means that, if you can pay for dentistry, then you don't have to wait; if you can't, then you do have to wait. And that is the basic truth.
I want to just focus my question, if I may, on children and young people. I'm sure we'd all agree that they should be able to access NHS dentistry. In Powys, as Cefin has mentioned, over 800 children are waiting for an NHS dentist, and, to be fair to Powys, they are one of only two health boards who keep data on children waiting for NHS dentistry. I just wonder if you could provide an update, an outline of the plan the Government has in order to help children who are waiting for NHS dentistry across Wales. Thank you, diolch yn fawr iawn.