Glastonbury & Somerton MP Sarah Dyke has launched a petition to demand government intervention after revealing that no NHS dental practices in the constituency are currently accepting new patients.

The petition, launched on 31 October, has amassed nearly 500 signatures within its first fortnight.

Ms Dyke says the lack of NHS dentistry provision in Somerset has reached "dental desert" status, forcing residents into hardship.

She challenged the Prime Minister at PMQs last month and has written to the Health Secretary seeking a fully funded "Dental Rescue Package" to reform NHS contracts and encourage dentists to work in rural areas.

The figures cited by Ms Dyke state that last year just 30% of adults in Somerset were seen by a dentist, and only 42% of children — both well below the national average of 55%.

Ms Dyke said: "The lack of NHS dentists has become a chronic national crisis, and nowhere more so than in rural areas like Glastonbury & Somerton where too many people are suffering because there simply are no local dental practices taking on NHS patients."

She added that she has met with the Chair of the local Integrated Care Board to push for emergency short‑term measures including repurposing de‑commissioned wards at West Mendip Hospital for dental treatment, deploying mobile units, and delivering dentistry services in schools.

She urged local residents to sign the petition and promised to continue pressing the government until proper NHS dental services are restored in Somerset.

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