Farron grills Health Minister on Ambleside dentist

3.00.00pm GMT Tue 13th Nov 2007

Local MP Tim Farron asked the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson about the provision of NHS dentistry in Ambleside and the surrounding region during Health Questions in the House of Commons today.

Mr Farron asked the Secretary of State to join in calls for Cumbria Primary Care Trust to reverse the decision to close the Ambleside practice, as it covers an area of some 90 square miles and serves around 3,000 patients from Ambleside and the surrounding villages of Hawkshead, Grasmere, The Langdales, Rydal and Troutbeck. Mr Johnson agreed to look into the matter.

After Health Questions, Mr Farron said:

"It is important that issues such as the closure of the practice in Ambleside are raised at the highest possible level. Access to NHS dentistry is at critically low levels and it is shameful that the PCT has actively decided to close this practice.

"I was very pleased to hear the Secretary of State commit to looking into the matter, I will be writing to him later today with the details for him to review."