Nine in 10 NHS dental practices across the UK are not accepting new adult patients for treatment under the health service, according to new research by the BBC.

The research highlights the struggle many families in the city are facing to get NHS dental treatment.

Of the 14 dental practices in Peterborough contacted by the BBC, 93 per cent said they were not taking on new adult NHS patients.

According to the NHS website no dental practices in the city say they are taking on new NHS dental patients, or are only taking them by referral.

Andrew Pakes, Labour & Co-operative Parliamentary Candidate for Peterborough commented:

“This damning research by the BBC will come as no surprise to residents struggling to get NHS dental treatment.

“The NHS crisis isn’t just about hospital treatment or getting to see a GP, it is now a damaging backlog of dental treatment.

“In the face of rising living costs too many people simply can’t afford to go private or even get an appointment at all.

“We need urgent action to fix the NHS crisis and to help ensure families can get the dental treatment they need, when they need it.”