Leffman welcomes NHS dentist promises

11.04.36am GMT Tue 5th Jan 2010

The Interim Chief Executive of NHS Hampshire, Richard Popplewell, has written to Prospective Lib Dem MP Liz Leffman with the promise of a new mobile NHS dentist surgery to cover Bishops Waltham, East and West Meon and Wickham. The mobile facility will be attached to a hub service in Winchester.

Leffman has campaigned for more NHS dentists in Meon Valley since 2007, and has been in regular correspondence with the NHS Trust. Her campaign was noticed by the BBC in 2008, and prompted a programme with presenter Dom Littlewood, filmed in Bishops Waltham, about the shocking lack of NHS dentists in the area..

"This new facility will make a real difference to thousands of people who are unable to get to an NHS dentist at the moment" said Leffman

"I am delighted to have been able to help to get this facility established and I thank the staff of NHS Hampshire for listening and for acting to improve dental services in our villages."

The lack of dentists was first brought to Liz Leffman's attention by Bishops Waltham Citizen's Advice Bureau, which conducted a survey among local residents, and presented the findings to Liz and Winchester MP Mark Oaten in 2007.

"It goes to show how, when we work together, we can change the way things are" Leffman added " If I am elected this year, my priority as Meon Valley's MP will be to listen and to act on behalf of local residents."

Mr Popplewell has also confirmed that a new NHS dentist surgery is due to open in Cowplain, but that building work has been delayed. Liz Leffman will continue to monitor the progress of this new surgery on behalf of residents.