Oral Answers to Questions

Damien Egan Excerpts

Tuesday 20th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Yvette Cooper]

The story of what happened to little Finlay is devastating, and what his family have been through is unimaginable. I reiterate the apology that I have made to Finlay’s family; this happened in the summer of 2024, but it is still devastating that it should have happened, and that he should have been treated in a corridor in that way. As the hon. Member knows, since earlier this year, we have been measuring corridor care for the first time, because we have to end corridor care—it is not fair on patients. I am introducing new assessments of corridor care involving children, because that has to be the urgent priority. No child should be treated in a corridor.

[Damien Egan (Bristol North East) (Lab)]

T6. The steps towards expanding access to NHS dental treatment that the Minister outlined earlier are very welcome, but too many of my constituents still report that they cannot see an NHS dentist when they need one. Can the Minister therefore tell us what specific steps are being taken to improve dental services across the Bristol region?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Mr James Frith)]

I recognise that too many of my hon. Friend’s constituents are struggling to secure an NHS dentist, despite the improvements that have already been made. Responsibility for commissioning dentistry sits with the local integrated care board, and I encourage him—through me, by all means—to reach out to the ICB and have a conversation with it. The Government have provided £4 billion in ringfenced funding for NHS dentistry, which has gone some way towards making the improvements we have seen, but there is plenty more to do, and my hon. Friend has my attention.