Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy found it somewhat ironic yesterday that the ex-First Minister, Mark Drakeford MS, asked his previous Health Minister a question on an area of policy where Welsh Labour has truly failed.
The ex-First Minister asked yesterday for an update on efforts to diversify the dental workforce in Wales, with the aim of increasing the capacity for dental treatments.
However, it was the ex-First Minister’s own government that oversaw a rapid decline in NHS dental services. A 60% decrease in NHS dental treatments since 2021.
Commenting on this Janet said:
“It is very tongue-in-cheek of the Member to ask a question that points to a problem that he and his party are solely responsible in creating.
“Because of Labour’s new contracts, nothing has been done to address the stark reality in Aberconwy, where a three-tier system persists: those who can afford private treatment, those who rely on NHS treatment, and the rest who are left without access to either. This situation is utterly disgraceful.
“Welsh Labour have left dental care in Wales in a dire state with many waiting months for appointments as practices are full with those who chose to pay for the service.
“Indeed, it was the Attlee Labour government that created this two class system and put us in this mess in the first place by cutting the health budget back in 1950.
“That is why I am calling on the Cabinet Secretary for Health to commission a piece of work to model what would be required to deliver dental care to all residents of Aberconwy and Wales through the NHS.”
ENDS
