A NORTH Wales MS has criticised a minister’s “dismissive” response to the decision by a Denbighshire dental practice to stop its NHS service and go private.

Ruthin-based Llyr Gruffydd, of Plaid Cymru, said he was “disappointed” by the “refusal” of the Welsh Government’s Minister for North Wales, Lesley Griffiths, to engage with the matter, in the Senedd chamber.

Last month, the Free Press reported that Ruthin Dental Practice will cease providing NHS treatment to adult patients on June 30.

Patients have been sent a letter from the business on Market Street.

The practice will move to a private scheme and have introduced a patient membership plan.

Mr Gruffydd pointed out that of 10 alternative dentist surgeries, only one is currently receiving NHS patients and called on the Welsh Government to “prove” that it is “getting to grips” with the “crisis”.

But in response, the Minister said she would not allocate time to address the matter. 

READ MORE: Ruthin Dental Practice to stop NHS service and go private

During the exchange in the Senedd, Mr Gruffydd said: “Minister, we hear from week to week about the increasing crisis facing dentistry here in Wales.

"The British Dental Association has warned that services on the NHS could to all intents and purposes come to an end, because there are so many dentists who have either given up, or are about to give up, their NHS contracts.

“Ruthin is the latest dental surgery to decide this week that they'll be giving up on NHS services, and, for transparency, I'm one of the patients who uses the dentist service there.

“We had a statement last week from the Minister for health on dentistry in Wales, but that has made me even more concerned about the future of the service, because it's clear that there is no understanding that there are three tiers of people using the service: first is those who can afford private treatment; second, those who can't but are succeeding in accessing NHS services; but there's a third tier, and that's growing on a weekly basis, where there are people who can't afford to go private and also can't access NHS services.

“Out of the 10 dentist surgeries around Ruthin – in places like Wrexham, Mold and so on — only one is receiving NHS patients at the moment, and there's a waiting list of two years to be able to access those NHS services.

“So, can I invite the Government, and the Minister for health specifically, to try again with another statement, to prove to us that you as a Government are getting to grips with this issue, because it is a crisis, and, as far as I can see, you are not succeeding in dealing with it?”

Lesley Griffiths replied: “Well, as you referred to yourself, there was a statement here only last week on dentistry, where the Minister for Health and Social Services set out very clearly the work being undertaken. So, I won't be allocating further time.”

Following the exchange in the Senedd, Mr Gruffydd said: “I was disappointed by the Minister’s dismissive response to the decision of Ruthin Dental Practice to cease providing NHS treatment to adult patients later this year.

“At the very least, it is incumbent on the Welsh Government to show that it is taking the matter seriously and that it is getting to grips with the crisis in dentistry in North Wales, and in this instance it has fallen woefully short.

“The refusal to allocate time to address what is an important issue for local residents, simply isn’t good enough.

“It is concerning that so many constituents are struggling to access the dentistry services they need through the NHS.

“The Welsh Government needs to show that it is engaging with the concerns raised by the dentistry profession in order to ensure that NHS services are safeguarded.”

In an oral statement, Minister for Health and Social Services Eluned Morgan MS said: "The oral health response to 'A Healthier Wales' set out how oral health and dental services in Wales would continue to develop in line with the changing needs of the population.

"Our vision for dentistry builds on the philosophy of prudent healthcare and fully recognises that system change is required.

"Dentistry has been one of the more difficult services to recover following the COVID-19 pandemic and this explains, in part, why people experience difficulty accessing NHS dental care.

"But dental reform is progressing at pace, and I’d like to take the opportunity today to set out how this Government is increasing access to NHS dental care for those that most need it.

"I turn first to access for people who have not been able to get a place at an NHS dental practice.

"I have heard statements recently saying that NHS dentistry is now a two- or three-tiered system.

"The fact is that there has always been a private dental system, available to those who choose to use it and can afford it.

"Private healthcare is an established alternative, and whilst we might aspire to provide NHS dental care for everyone, in reality some will prefer to go private, creating a divided market."

The minister added: "Fundamentally, we need to reimagine NHS dental services along that risk and needs-based approach, using our much-strained financial resource to provide care and treatment for those that need it most.

"And that's why we're doing a reform of the dental contract.

"It's a fundamental change for both patients and the dental profession, where we can, and will, do more to ensure that the change is acceptable and understood by all."