Tivyside | Archive | 2002 | April | 16
From the Tivyside Advertiser, first published Tuesday 16th Apr 2002.
Ceredigion AM Elin Jones is taking up the cudgels on behalf of NHS dental patients in Ceredigion, some of whom are being referred to dentists many miles outside the county.
Speaking at a meeting of Cardigan Town Council last week she said: "This is a huge problem, and we are unable to provide an answer to it."
After Cllr Bob Doyle pointed out that The Dentists practice in St Mary Street had closed down, and the situation in Cardigan was at crisis level, Ms Jones said: "In Aberystwyth patients are being referred to dentists in Pembroke Dock, which is an atrocious situation.
"The private sector is the more attractive and lucrative option as far as dentists are concerned, and it is extremely difficult to recruit NHS dentists in rural areas," she said.
Going on to say that efforts were being made to acquire £1.8m for the recruitment of dentists, the AM said: "I will be doing all I can to help alleviate the problem, but unfortunately there is no short term answer."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008