WITH 40 per cent of children still not visiting their dentist regularly, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to ensure that the reinstatement of the North Wales mobile dental unit is treated as a priority by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The mobile dentistry vehicle was taken out of service in summer 2016 after being deemed unfit for use.
Last month, schoolchildren in North Wales started a campaign for the return of the unit, which served thousands of pupils across the region.
Raising the matter with the First Minister in the Assembly Chamber this week, Mr Isherwood said:
“Some 40 per cent of children still don't visit the dentist regularly. A third of children are starting school each year already showing signs of tooth decay, and it's the most common single reason why children aged five to nine require admissions to hospital.
“Given that this North Wales mobile dental unit stopped last Summer, and the Health Board is only reporting now their bid for funding to purchase a replacement vehicle and that they are looking at redeployment of other mobile dentistry resources to provide support in the area, isn't it a little late, six months later, and should this not have been treated as a priority? And, if you agree with that, will your colleagues get on the phone to the Health Board and ensure that, with your partnership, this is treated as a priority?”
The First Minister replied: “The Cabinet Secretary hears what the Member says. As I said, there are alternative provisions in place, although the intention is to restart the service.”
Mr Isherwood added: “This Unit is often the only access children have to a dentist, and with tooth decay rates higher in deprived communities, it is not acceptable that this has been left to drift for so long.”