Shawn Charlwood on York NHS Dentistry Crisis – Without Change “NHS Dentistry Will Exist In Name Only”
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- Published: Tuesday, 03 August 2021 07:44
- Written by Chris Tapper
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Access to NHS dentistry in Yorkshire has reached a ‘new low’ according to Healthwatch York.
Yorkshire Live reports that no dentists in the whole of Yorkshire and Humber are currently accepting new NHS patients for routine care.
And Dr Shawn Charlwood, Chair of the BDA’s General Dental Practice Committee, told York Press “Unless we see real change, these headlines will become the norm, and NHS dentistry will exist in name only."
The findings from its latest research has led Healthwatch York to call for ‘urgent reforms’ according to the Huddersfield Examiner, at the same time acknowledging the impact of the current COVID-19 restrictions on general practice, which have prevented an increase in NHS capacity.
Researchers asked Healthwatch fourteen organisations across Yorkshire and Humber if they knew of dentists in their area who were taking on NHS patients.
Yorkshire Live reported that thirteen of the Healthwatch organisations reported that they knew of no dentists taking on NHS patients and were experiencing “Similar problems to York.”
“The team concluded “So to the best of our knowledge at this time there are no dentists accepting NHS patients across Yorkshire and Humber for routine care,” the website reported.
“Healthwatch contacted the 39 dental practices in York and found that eight were currently treating existing NHS patients for routine care – with most surgeries having a waiting time of three to six months for an appointment.”
Healthwatch York Manager, Siân Balsom said told Yorkshire Live “NHS dentistry in the city has reached a new low and is in need of urgent and radical reform.
“If we fail to act soon we’ll be putting further pressure on an already severely stressed health system.”
The website said “Practices had been “seriously impacted” by COVID the Healthwatch report found, with dentists saying colleagues had left as a result of the pandemic, that the backlog of patients was large and that uncertainty was causing disruption.”
Healthwatch says it wants to see action taken to reform commissioning of dental services to focus on tackling inequalities and affordability.
“They are also calling for clearer information for patients about how, where and when to access NHS dentists and how much they will have to pay. And they want dentistry to be linked to wider health services, with oral health affecting conditions such as weight management and stop smoking programmes.”
Roger Newton, research officer at Healthwatch York told the website “The most frequent reason people in York contact our information, advice and signposting service is to ask where they can find a dentist.”
“We have long struggled to signpost them anywhere.”
“Our research gave us firm evidence as to the problem. We are now launching a survey to capture the voices of would-be NHS dental patients across the city, to show the impact of this gaping hole in local health and care provision.”
Dr Charlwood told the York Press “NHS dentistry had been in crisis before Covid struck, as an ’underfunded and overstretched service limped on, leaving millions with few options.’
He said that since lockdown, that crisis had reached new levels, with more than 130,000 appointments lost for York residents.
"We need support from government, and nothing less than root and branch reform of the way this service operates," he said.
The York Press reported Conservative MP for York Outer, Julian Sturdy saying he had already been looking into the matter following inquiries from constituents and, on hearing Healthwatch’s findings, he had immediately tabled further parliamentary questions to the Department of Health, asking about the extent to which the dentistry backlog caused by pandemic disruption might affect the ability to take on new patients.
"I have also asked Ministers what share of resources from the government’s £33.9 billion annual NHS budget increase will be allocated to increase NHS dental capacity in York," Mr Sturdy said.
"I fear sadly this evidence shows the impact of the covid-induced cancellation of routine appointments, and the impact of understandable safety measures like cleaning surgeries after each patient and changing staff protective clothing, which reduce the amount of time available for appointments."
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