The government has been urged to back its words with action on South Devon's 'painfully inadequate' NHS dental care.
Liberal Democrat MP Caroline Voaden, who represents the area, has tabled an amendment to the Health Bill currently going through Parliament.
The amendment demands a cast-iron commitment from Health Secretary Yvette Cooper to improve local dental provision. It would guarantee access to an NHS dentist for anyone needing urgent care and ensure all local children can get NHS checkups.
If accepted, the amendment would require the government to fix local NHS dental provision within one year of the act being passed. If that target is missed, the Health Secretary would have to appear at a public meeting in South Devon to explain why.
Ms Voaden, who said adults and children in South Devon had been suffering with 'painfully inadequate' NHS dental care, was speaking as the Liberal Democrats launched a campaign for a 'Dental A&E' in every community. The aim is for anyone with a dental issue to get NHS treatment seven days a week.
The party has pledged a dental rescue package to guarantee NHS dentistry for anyone needing urgent or emergency care, as well as checkups for children and vulnerable groups such as new mothers.
Ms Voaden added: "The crisis in NHS dentistry is a stain on Labour’s conscience. In opposition, they warned the service was at death's door, yet they’ve done little since taking office to bring it back from the brink.
"The state of NHS dentistry in South Devon is shocking, leaving adults and children in pain without the care they urgently need.
"Yvette Cooper now has a clear choice – back my one-year target to restore local care, or just ignore the crisis like her predecessor and leave people in unacceptable pain, relying on DIY dentistry and painkillers."
MP Challenges Government Over Devon NHS Dentistry