A Salisbury city councillor is calling for urgent action to tackle what she describes as a 'dental desert.'
Victoria Charleston, the Liberal Democrat councillor for St Paul's, has highlighted the lack of NHS dentistry in the city as a growing concern, saying it is a problem regularly raised by residents.
Ms Charleston said: "Behind these figures are real experiences.
"I am hearing from elderly and vulnerable residents who are travelling as far as the New Forest to access treatment on the NHS, and from families who are paying around £85 for routine six‑monthly check‑ups.
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"At a time when many households are already under financial pressure, this is simply not sustainable."
British Dental Association data reveals only 33 per cent of adults in Wiltshire have seen an NHS dentist in the last two years.
Although there are 343 dentists in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board area, this equates to just 119 full‑time equivalent NHS dentists due to reduced NHS commitments.
Ms Charleston has written to the ICB to discuss potential collaboration.
She is hoping to replicate recent improvements seen in Somerset through similar approaches.
She is also encouraging residents to support the campaign by completing a dental survey at www.salisburylibdems.uk/dentist-survey, where they can share their own experiences accessing dental care.
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