Hardly any Dorset NHS dentists accepting new patients
Campaigners say the industry's in crisis and are calling for urgent reform
Just three of Dorset's 99 NHS dentists are currently accepting new adult patients, according to health groups calling for urgent reform.
Healthwatch Dorset says more than half of the enquiries it's dealt with this year involved people struggling to get routine or urgent care.
The group contacted all of the county's registered practices, with 19 not responding. Six did not respond because they were no longer treating NHS patients.
Just 13 of those contacted said they were accepting children for treatment, with two of those doing so only in emergencies.
In a report published by the group, Healthwatch Dorset included the comments they received from some people looking to access treatment:
- "The tooth needs to be removed but I was told to find a private dentist as NHS treatment was not possible. That is money I do not have."
- "My daughter needs to go to the dentist and the only way I seem to be able to do this is to pay extortionate private fees."
- "My dentist has taken me off their caseload as I had not attended for a period of time. I am a nurse working full-time, currently pregnant, and have not had time during COVID to book an appointment. I thought the practice should’ve given me notice of terminating me from their books."
In response, Healthwatch Dorset is calling for more urgent care to be made available, for all dentists to make places available for children without restrictions.
Louise Bate, Healthwatch Dorset Manager, said:
"This snapshot research gives a clear picture of the situation with access to NHS dental care in Dorset at the end of 2021. It reflects common issues that continue to be raised with us by the public and with other local Healthwatch across England.
"Since we carried out this research, NHS England has announced £50 million of funding to secure up to 350,000 additional NHS dental appointments by the end of March 2022.
"We welcome this funding and we are pleased that children, people with learning disabilities, autism, or severe mental health problems will be prioritised for treatment.
"However, ongoing reform is required, and we look forward to working with NHS England to help them improve access to NHS dentistry for local people."