02-20-2009, 02:24 PM
TOOTH decay is now the third most common reason children are admitted to hospital, official figures showed yesterday.
Nearly 37,000 kids a year are kept in with cavities ⿿ topped only by those with chest infections and premature tots.
Decay was not in the top FIVE reasons five years ago. Admissions are up 13 per cent since then.
Tories blamed a lack of NHS dentists, saying many went private when new Government contracts were launched in 2006. Shadow health minister Mike Penning said: ⿿Labour⿿s decade in charge has resulted in a significant deterioration in dental health.
Dr Nick Goodwin of The King⿿s Fund health think-tank added: ⿿Dentists are leaving the NHS in droves as they make more money privately.
Source
Nearly 37,000 kids a year are kept in with cavities ⿿ topped only by those with chest infections and premature tots.
Decay was not in the top FIVE reasons five years ago. Admissions are up 13 per cent since then.
Tories blamed a lack of NHS dentists, saying many went private when new Government contracts were launched in 2006. Shadow health minister Mike Penning said: ⿿Labour⿿s decade in charge has resulted in a significant deterioration in dental health.
Dr Nick Goodwin of The King⿿s Fund health think-tank added: ⿿Dentists are leaving the NHS in droves as they make more money privately.
Source