NORTH Cornwall’s MP has slammed the region’s health board after £1.2-million in dental budget was returned to the government after being unspent.

Following a response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by MP Ben Maguire, the Liberal Democrat has called the situation ‘unacceptable’ and says that the funds could have been used to support those in ‘desperate need’ of treatment.

Mr Maguire says the failure to spend the money available for dental treatments puts a huge strain on other NHS services in Cornwall.

“This money could have provided over 40,000 visits to an NHS dentist for my constituents. The money returned would have paid for each primary school pupil to have a dental check-up,” claims Mr Maguire, who says that over half the children in Cornwall have missed out on visits to the dentists due to a shortage of NHS provision.

A previous Freedom of Information request by Ben Maguire established that the number of children attending A&E at Treliske in need of urgent dental treatment has doubled in recent years.

Mr Maguire says that he raised the matter with the ICB and the Director of Public Health.

He continued: “There are many great initiatives which would welcome this funding including the Smile Together dental van, which so far has managed one visit to North Cornwall.

“I am also working with the Good’s Shed in Wadebridge to explore an NHS Clinic there – it’s criminal funding is being handed back.”

In response to the MP’s concerns, a spokesperson for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board said: “We understand how important access to an NHS dentist is for residents of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. That’s why we’ve taken action over dental providers who haven’t fully provided the NHS care they have been contracted for.

“Under NHS rules, when a dental provider doesn’t fulfil their contract the money must be returned and cannot be carried forward or used for other services. This meant we had to return money for some contracts between April 2024-March 2025.

“We have taken steps locally to improve this. We have reviewed underperforming contracts and used that funding to create new NHS dental services across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. These new contracts are currently being set up and mean in the current and last financial years our full dental budget is committed.

“We know there is more to do, and we are continuing to work with providers and partners to increase access to NHS dentistry and improve services for local people. This includes an NHS dental van providing appointments for veterans, rural communities and people who have waited the longest for an appointment, providing thousands of additional urgent and emergency appointments, offering additional 'stabilisation' appointments for patients following emergency dental care to treat other urgent dental issues, and supporting people to develop good oral health through supervised toothbrushing sessions to 10,000 primary school children and through the Smarter Smiles programme, delivered by Smile Together Dental CIC.”