Peredur Owen Griffiths has asked what the Labour First Minster intends to do about the growing number of NHS dentists going private.
The Plaid Cymru Senedd Member for South Wales East was reacting after a long-standing NHS dentist in his region went private due to the contract changes that the Labour Government have made.
Crown Cottage Dental Care of Bedwas is one of many practices who have made the decision to withdraw NHS dental care following years of disgruntlement with the Labour Government’s treatment of NHS dentistry in Wales.
During First Minister’s Questions, Peredur said: “A constituent has been in touch with my office who’s now nearly 50 years old and has been with this particular practice since he was a child.
“He has been told he would have to pay a fixed subscription fee to remain at the dentist in excess of £1,000 a year for his family of four.
“It is well documented that there are other dentists that have gone private recently for the same sorts of reasons.
“NHS dentists in Wales have been warning of the collapse in NHS provision since I came into office in 2021.”
Peredur added: “Have you been ignoring these warnings…as First Minister or as Health Minister before that?
“More importantly, what do you say to families like the one I mentioned, who have been told to find £1,000 a year extra for basic dental care, and what are you doing about it?”
In response, First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “It's always disappointing when a dentist decides to reduce or end their NHS commitment” and that “we need to do is to make sure that we train more Welsh domiciled dentists.”