According to an NHS England report, more than 50 per cent of children in Swindon do not have access to an NHS dentist.

Speaking to BBC News, Jo Lawton the commissioner for NHS dentistry, said the access rate for children in Wiltshire is 47.6 per cent. The national average is 46.9 per cent.

Jo said, "If children aren't getting treatment, they are just storing up problems for later years and that might include wider health problems."

The data was put to members of Swindon Borough Council’s adult’s health care and housing overview and scrutiny committee. Some of the councillors are now calling for dentists to work with schools to improve access.

Councillor Ray Ballman added, "If less than half of children are able to see a dentist, shouldn't we be sending dentists into schools? That's what used to happen years ago."

Amritpal Kaur, a representative for Healthwatch, said, “voluntary organisations had been providing toothbrushes and toothpaste to schools pre-pandemic, but they were now struggling to deliver such items.”

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