THE proportion of adults seen by NHS dentists in Cumberland over the past two years remains below pre-pandemic levels, new figures show.

Figures from the NHS show 82,396 adults were seen by an NHS dentist in Cumberland in the two years leading to June 30 this year, 39 per cent of the area's adult population.

It is up from 38 per cent in 2020-22 but below the rate before Covid-19 when 54 per cent were seen in 2017-19.

In Cumberland, 25,396 children were seen in the past year – covering 51 per cent of under-18s in the area.

The rate is down from 54 per cent in 2021-22 and below 68 per cent in 2018-19.

Labour has promised to create 100,000 extra dental appointments for children, in a bid to clear backlogs in England.

The new appointments will be for urgent and emergency care and on evenings and weekends, according to the party.

The Conservatives launched a plan earlier in 2024 and they will offer dentists cash incentives to take on extra NHS patients to help more people be seen.