Further calls for more to be done on accessing NHS dentists in Darlington
There are further calls for more to be done in Darlington to ensure people can access NHS dentistry services.
The local MP says he has received more than 200 enquiries from residents in crisis since the Firthmoor branch closed.
Peter Gibson reckons there needs to be an urgent change to funding allocations as well as more training and mobile dentists who can visit schools.
He said: "We've seen a number of dentists hand back their NHS contracts and we're seeing an increasing problem with people not being able to access an NHS dentist here in the town. I've been very vocal in the Commons on many, many previous other occasions. I've met with a multitude of ministers.
"The immediate problem that we need to tackle here in Darlington is the closure of the Burgess and Hyder practice at Firthmoor Community Centre. I'm very angry and very upset and we need to see a replacement dentist as soon as possible, as an immediate measure to tackle the shortage of provision here in Darlington.
"We need to see dentists who are trained at great public expense, spend some time committed to doing public service after they've completed their work, there needs to be some fundamental re-shifting in terms of the amount of commissioning that happens in communities that are challenged, and there's a whole host of things that can be done with mobile dentists and getting them into schools.
"We're aware of the problem whereby children not seeing a dentist on a regular basis sees an increase in admissions and attendances at A&E and the pressure that puts on our NHS. There are some really terrible stories out there in terms of chidlren losing their teeth at a young age and that's absolutely appalling."