From left: Tim Farron MP, Tony Page, Adam Dance MP, James MacCleary MP and Ian Roome MP, at Downing Street. Picture: Livvi Grant

Yeovil MP hands in NHS dentistry petition to Downing Street

Paul JonesJanuary 9, 20250 Comment1

YEOVIL MP Adam Dance joined colleagues and campaigners to hand in a petition to Downing Street calling for action to address a UK ‘dentistry crisis’.

Adam Dance (Lib Dem, Yeovil) handed in the petition, launched by The Mirror in partnership with the British Dental Association (BDA), the Women’s Institute and campaign group 38 Degrees, which featured more than 257,000 signatures.

The petition calls on the government to provide proper funding for NHS dentistry and reform failing contracts to rebuild the service, prioritise prevention, and ensure fair access to dental care for everyone.

Mr Dance said: “Dentistry is a vital part of healthcare, yet millions of people across the UK, including many in our own communities, cannot access the NHS dental care they need.

“This crisis is causing unnecessary pain and long-term health issues, and it’s unacceptable.

“The strength of this petition shows how urgently reform is needed. I stand with my constituents and campaigners in calling on the government to properly fund NHS dentistry and deliver on their promises to rebuild this essential service.”

Tony Page, a mouth cancer patient whose life was saved by a dental check-up, was also at Downing Street.

“I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for a brilliant NHS dentist, who I was lucky enough to have access to, spotting something that quite literally saved my life,” he said.

“It just goes to show how important dental care is and how crucial it is for everyone to be able to access NHS dental services wherever they live.”

And Veronica Hawking, campaigns director at 38 Degrees, added: “The fact that a quarter of a million people have signed this petition demonstrates the widespread public frustration and clear demand for urgent action to fix NHS dentistry.

“Last year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer was elected on a promise to tackle the NHS dentistry crisis and reform the broken system – voters expect him to make good on that commitment. Now it’s time they deliver.”

Launched by The Mirror, the BDA, the Women’s Institute and 38 Degrees, the campaign calls for urgent reforms to NHS dentistry to rebuild the service.