Access problems to NHS dentistry rising
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- Published: Thursday, 01 September 2016 07:33
- Written by News Editor
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The waiting list to see an NHS dentist in Exeter has increased by nearly five times in a year, a local paper reports. Bradford MP, Judith Cummins, asked Ministers to increase the number of NHS dentists practising in her constituency and other areas with significantly above average incidences of oral and dental health problems
In Exeter 3,000 people have joined the waiting list to see an NHS dentist in the past year. There are currently nearly 4,000 people facing lengthy waits to access dental services in the city, compared with nearly 850 people 12 months ago. Significant increases are also being seen in other areas including East Devon where numbers have risen from 120 to 560, and in Mid Devon the waiting list has grown from 113 to 370.
A local dentist said that his practice NHS book was full and “we physically can't take any more patients on." Concern has been expressed by Exeter MP and member of Health Select Committee, Ben Bradshaw, who said: "I'm extremely worried about the Government's failure to ensure there are enough NHS dentists in Exeter. This was a problem that the last Labour Government resolved. But we are now going backwards with hundreds of local people unable to get a dentist."
In answer to he new minister said: NHS England is required to commission primary care dental services to meet local need. Generally there are not difficulties in finding dentists to work on services where these are commissioned. The local NHS is undertaking a detailed project to understand the ongoing access issues in Bradford in order to identify a solution. NHS England is also looking at how best to improve oral health in 10 high need areas.”
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