NHS dentistry addressed in PMQs

Labour MP for Stockport Navendu Mishra told the House that a number of people in his constituency had contacted him ‘about the lack of NHS dentists and the prohibitive cost of private dental treatment. Just a few weeks ago, one constituent contacted me and said, ‘I work full-time as a mental and support worker. I am on minimum wage and can barely afford the reduced NHS dental costs. In the past three months I have had to go to the emergency dentist three times for the same tooth – with the infection initially getting so bad that I collapsed at work. The problem is not being dealt with because you need a second appointment, which isn’t classed as an emergency, and thus needs your regular dentist.’ Does the prime minister agree that stories like this amount to nothing less than a national scandal, and what steps will he take to reduce the backlog for NHS dental appointments, and further, will h commit to increasing the number of NHS dentists across England?”