Nine in 10 NHS dental practices across the UK are not accepting new adult patients for treatment under the health service, a BBC investigation has found.

Cllr Teresa Murray, Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Spokesperson for Health said:

“A shortage of NHS dentists in Medway is not a new problem but was made worse by Coronavirus. Prior to that patients were already travelling out of area to try and find an NHS dentist while the profession expressed dissatisfaction with the NHS contract believing that the payment structure is unbalanced. 

“Medway CCG failed to  tackle the problem so now it’s up to the newly formed Kent  & Medway ICP to respond quickly. They should be working through the Dentist’ Professional Association to tackle both the contractual issues and the shortage of appointments. With the worst cost of living crisis for 70 years now biting hard, very few families will be in a position to afford private treatment, so action is needed now.

“The ICP could fund some free diagnostic clinics, supported by a council public health campaign in schools, town centres and workplaces about the long term impact of neglecting your teeth. The dental practices could pool appointments in the same way some GP practices have done with a single telephony service able to offer patients an appointment at one of the participating practices.The terrible stories of people pulling out their own teeth or those of family members in desperation are Dickensian and can lead to other serious health problems like sepsis or longer term pain. people in Medway might not have much to smile about just now but deserve to have the choice to do so without being embarrassed.”

Notes

This is the BBC investigation referenced in the press release – https://www.bbc.com/news/health-62253893

You can listen to Cllr Murray’s full interview on this subject from BBC Radio Kent here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFSlCcrAlSM