The number of dental staff in Welsh hospitals has plummeted by almost 20 per cent since 2005, while the number of NHS managers has risen by over 20 per cent.
Figures obtained by Welsh Conservatives show the number of managers within the NHS has increased from 3,176 in 2005, to 3,823 in 2009.
Over the same period, the number of dental staff within our hospitals has dropped from 117 to 94.
Since 2007 hospital admissions for emergency dental treatment have increased in at least three major health boards.
In its response to a Freedom of Information request, figures show admissions in Cardiff & Vale LHB have risen from 8,894 in 2007/08 to 9,618 in 2009/10.
In Abertawe Bro Morgannwg LHB admissions have risen from 201 in 2007/08 to 276 in 2009/10.
In Aneurin Bevan LHB admissions have risen from 190 in 2007/08 to 367 in 2009/10.
Shadow Minister for Health, Nick Ramsay AM (pictured), said: “A reduction in the number of hospital dental staff is worrying enough.
“That this is coupled with a rise in the number of emergency dental admissions over the last three years is doubly concerning.
“That we can also plainly see a substantial rise in the number of NHS managers during this same period simply beggars belief.
“We cannot remain in a position where the number of people needing this type of treatment is increasing, yet the number of professionals who can help is falling. That approach just doesn’t make sense.
“This kind of Labour-led inefficiency is symptomatic of the way they have been running our health service for years. The answer is not to cut the health budget by a billion pounds over the next three years; that will just make the situation worse.
“We have got to work hard to root out the waste and protect the health budget in line with inflation. That is the only way to give patients the world-class service they deserve.”
