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Isle of Wight East MP, Joe Robertson, has spoken in the House of Commons chamber for the first time.
He chose his moment to speak from the green benches during oral questions to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting.
Called by the speaker during questions on NHS dentistry, Joe Robertson said:
“As the Right Honourable Gentleman is aware there is a particular shortage of NHS dentists in coastal and rural communities like in constituencies such as mine on the Isle of Wight.
"Will he therefore today commit to the previous government’s plan for 240 golden hellos for newly qualified dentists by the end of the year to address this issue.”
Mr Streeting welcomed Mr Robertson to the House of Commons and replied:
“Mr. Speaker he is absolutely right to touch on the work force issues in NHS dentistry and absolutely right that we need to incentivise dentists on two fronts.
"Firstly to commit to the NHS and do more work in the NHS and there’s a range of things we are looking at in that regard but also to make sure that we get new dentists to the areas where they are most needed and we will certainly support incentives to that effect.”
Joe said afterwards that he welcomed the commitment to incentivising NHS dentistry.
He said he would be pressing the case for the East Wight with Government, not just for more NHS dentists but GPs and social care workers too.
Before entering Parliament, Joe worked for Dementia UK and their national Admiral Nurses programme.