PEOPLE desperate for an NHS dental appointment in Worcester have been seeking help from Facebook.

Patients have been finding it almost impossible to find an NHS dentist appointment in Worcester, leading many to go to Facebook for advice, according to Labour's candidate for Worcester MP Tom Collins.

He said groups like Worcester WR2 Residents frequently receive posts from neighbours asking for advice and updates on the situation.

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Mr Collins added: "I speak to so many people who are worried about accessing dental care.

"When you have a dental problem, you can't wait weeks for an appointment, and everyone knows that the costs can be extreme.

"This is a symptom of 14 years of neglect and mismanagement by Conservative governments.

"Labour has a plan to deliver 700,000 urgent dental appointments and to do the long-term work needed to get NHS dentistry back on its feet."

In response, Worcester MP, Robin Walker, said he agrees it is an issue, but it has not been caused by the Conservative government but with contracting put in before them.

He added: "Instead of pointing to Facebook, I have been working on getting something done with the ICB (Integrated Care Board).

"I met the ICB earlier this month and discussed with them the need to commission more NHS dentists to carry out more activity in Worcester.

"They said they will commission over 40,000 more units of dental activity in the city and will meet with the local dentist's committee to ensure that local dentists have the opportunity to apply for these over the coming weeks."

He added that the situation with NHS dentistry in Worcester is now set to improve this year. 

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Worcester News:

NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire took responsibility for dental care from NHS England in July 2023.

A spokesperson for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire said: "This means that we now have the opportunity ourselves to address the gap in local NHS dental services that has grown over the past ten years.

"Since taking control of NHS dental services, we've already arranged for extra dental capacity across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and we will shortly be running a procurement to open up additional new NHS dental practices within the county."

For urgent treatment, members of the public can contact NHS 111, and people are encouraged to check the NHS website for NHS dental places.