With yet another dental practice in his constituency announcing that it will be terminating its NHS provision, Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has reiterated his grave concern regarding the dental crisis facing Wales.
Last week, on the 26th February, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was informed by Abergele Dental Surgery, Groes Lwyd, of their intention to cease providing NHS Dental Services from 31st March 2026, impacting 471 patients.
It is understood that the practice will continue to provide dental services on a private basis.
In recent years, Darren has witnessed the closure of a good number of NHS dental practices in his constituency, and repeatedly called on the Labour Welsh Government to respond to the crisis.
Commenting on the news regarding Abergele Dental Surgery, he said:
"It is deeply concerning that North Wales is soon to lose yet another NHS practice. The region is fast becoming a dental desert.
"The Welsh Government was warned that unless it acted to address concerns raised by the dentistry profession about its new and unpopular dental contract, many dentists in Wales would withdraw from the provision of NHS services, but it refused to listen and we now find ourselves in this position.
"In recent years I have seen a number of NHS dental practices in my constituency close and have repeatedly called on Ministers in Cardiff Bay to take action.
"They say they do not have the money to invest in NHS dentistry, but the truth of the matter is that for every £1 that's spent on an NHS dentistry episode in England, Wales gets £1.20 to spend here.
"Patients should not be having to travel to Scotland or overseas to receive dental treatment, which is what my constituents are having to do - It is absolutely barbaric."
He added:
"We have to get to grips with this problem once and for all. We need incentives for people to train in Wales and we need incentives for them to work in the NHS once they are trained.
"For years I have been imploring the Welsh Government to make dentistry high on its list of priorities – they have failed to do so, and now we are in this mess. Patients deserve so much more."
