Healthwatch England has described NHS dentistry as a ‘mess’ after it found that some NHS dental patients were being asked to pay for private appointments if they wanted treatment or face a potential wait for up-to two years for an appointment.

The statement comes after a recent report found that some NHS dental patients were contacting up to 60 different dental practices to find available NHS care.  Healthwatch England had also been contacted by one NHS dental patient who had been offered a procedure costing £1,700 which was available on the NHS for £60. Other patients have reported been advised to purchase home dental kits and carry out DIY care whilst they wait for an available appointment.

Currently in the UK there is no separate oral health screening programme available as standard to the general public. Therefore, the importance of regular access to a dental professional is the only way in which oral health screening can be carried out.  With such limited accessibility to see an NHS dentist, fears are understandably rising in respect of missed cancer detection and screening.  

Healthwatch England’s chairman, Sir Robert Francis QC told the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme; ‘We immediately need to make sure that dentists who provide NHS care are able to provide it – that doesn’t seem to be happening uniformly around the country.

‘And part of the problem is of course the pandemic and we must recognise that, but we should be in a state where more than extraction is offered to treat dental pain, where that’s appropriate.’

Concerns in respect to reduced oral health screening was reinforced by Imelda Redmond, the national director for Healthwatch England who told Sky News; ‘We still need to make sure that people who need treatment … there are people who will have mouth cancer and won’t have it diagnosed during this time’.

The British Dental Associations General Dental Practice Committee chairman, Shawn Charlwood said; ‘Patients with urgent problems need to be at the front of the queue for care.

‘This service is yet to return to anything resembling business as usual.’

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Carrie Plummer - Editor & Content Manager