Cornwall’s NHS Dentistry Crisis: Could This Motion Change Everything?

Cornwall Council has unanimously passed a motion to tackle the county’s growing NHS dentistry crisis, with cross-party backing secured without a single vote of opposition.

The motion, led by Cornwall Councillor Rosie Moore, was passed today and sets out a plan focused on four key areas: strengthening preventative care, improving access through outreach services, boosting Cornwall’s dental workforce, and ensuring vulnerable children receive regular check-ups.

A Crisis Affecting Tens of Thousands

The scale of the problem in Cornwall is significant. Tens of thousands of residents are currently unable to access even basic NHS dental treatment, and dental budgets in Cornwall and across the country have reportedly been underspent.

Rosie Moore has been working closely with residents, health partners, and the MP for North Cornwall to highlight the issue and push for practical local solutions.

What the Motion Covers

The motion centres on four priorities:

• Strengthening preventative care
• Improving access through outreach services
• Boosting the dental workforce in Cornwall
• Ensuring vulnerable children receive regular check-ups

Voices From the Chamber

Commenting on the result, Rosie said: “I’m very pleased that my motion received such unanimous cross-party support. It shows a shared recognition that improving access to NHS dentistry, particularly for children and vulnerable groups is absolutely a priority for Cornwall. This is a really important step towards practical action, and I look forward to working with partners to deliver real improvements.”

North Cornwall’s MP, Ben Maguire, also welcomed the outcome: “I was glad to see Cllr Moore’s motion pass today with such strong cross-party backing and no opposition. We all know how serious the dentistry crisis is here in Cornwall, and tens of thousands of people are unable to access even basic NHS care. Meanwhile, dentistry budgets in Cornwall and around the country have been underspent which is totally unacceptable. This motion refocuses on how we can tackle this crisis. This is exactly the kind of collaborative approach we need, and I look forward to continuing to work with Cllr Moore, local partners, and our North Cornwall Dental Action Group to help deliver real improvements with urgency.”

Local Action Already Under Way

Rosie’s work aligns with wider efforts already taking shape across the Duchy. The North Cornwall Dental Action Group has been established, bringing together dentists, community organisations, and health bodies to develop practical local solutions to the crisis.