MPs Were Warned NHS Dental Access – Now, Patients Told ‘Self-Medicate’

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Published: Thursday, 19 May 2022 07:39
Written by Chris Tapper
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MPs Were Warned NHS Dental Access – Now, Patients Told ‘Self-Medicate’

The East of England continues to be one of the regions most severely affected by the NHS dental access crisis, with the spotlight now falling on Lincolnshire.

A survey published by Healthwatch Lincolnshire shows that 45% of respondents had no access to an NHS dentist, and that 24% of patients had to travel more than 25 miles to access health service dentistry.

The ‘Quick Poll Survey’ said that Healthwatch Lincolnshire heard of “Several cases of individuals travelling over 100 miles to access NHS dental services.”

Local news website, The Lincolnite, ran the headline “Lincolnshire patients forced to ‘self-medicate’ due to dentist crisis, new report says.”

One patient responding to the online survey wrote "Had chronic toothache and abscess after tooth broke off. No NHS dentist available, cannot afford private treatment. Self-medicating with paracetamol and ibuprofen.”

On Monday, Judith Cummins, MP for Bradford South said in a Commons debate “Most of these difficulties have been brewing and festering for years. The Government’s failure to solve these problems or come up with solutions has pushed many services to breaking point and now families are being left to bear the brunt.”

“NHS dentistry and oral health inequality has been repeatedly unaddressed by this Government. Access to basic dentistry care in this country is often forgotten, but it is a vital part of the nation’s health.”

Ms Cummins continued “In 2016, an NHS Digital report found that just under half of dentists were thinking of leaving dentistry, so I warned the Government not to kick the can down the road and risk a crisis in dental care.”

“I told the Government then that the most important measure they could implement, as highlighted by the British Dental Association would be changes to the dental contract that incentivised prevention, but nothing was done.”

“In 2017, the BDA told us that 58% of the UK’s NHS dentists were planning on turning away from NHS dentistry in the next five years. So again I warned the Government that we faced a national crisis.”

“In 2019, The Times reported that 60% of dentists planned to leave the profession, or cut back NHS care in the next five years, with more than 1 million new patients turned away and some patients resorting to pulling out their own teeth. Yet again, nothing was done.”

“In 2020, I told the Government that a majority of NHS dental practices across England believed they could only survive for 12 months or less. The Government said they would look at the workforce issue “more broadly” and “in the round”, but no action was forthcoming and 1,000 NHS dentists left the service.”

“Earlier this year, hearing that almost 1,000 children under 10 in Bradford had to be admitted to hospital to have decayed teeth removed, I pleaded with the Government to finally deal with the issue that had been staring them in the face for years. Then, of course, to nobody’s surprise except this Government’s, last week, it was revealed that 2,000 dentists have quit the service in the last year.”

“We urgently need to reform the dental contract. It is not good enough to be told time and again, year after year, that reform is imminent, because I have been asking for seven years now and still the Government have yet to deliver.”

“If the Government need help with budgeting, I can point the Chancellor in the direction of one of his own MPs who might have a course he can take up, but I desperately do not want to be back here in 2023 still trying to open the Government’s eyes to the massive freight train coming towards them.”

“I have sounded the alarm, other Members have sounded the alarm, and dentists and patients have sounded the alarm. We are all waiting for the Government to act and reform the dental contract. Patients and our constituents cannot wait any longer.”

Healthwatch Lincolnshire carried out its survey during March 2022.

The Healthwatch report said “In the past 12 months, 40% contacted an alternative NHS service, when unable to see an NHS Dentist (sic) either for themselves or someone else.”

The report went on “28% ended up going to a private dentist” while “10% called an NHS helpline eg 111. 6% looked information up online.”

The survey found 3% of respondents went to accident and emergency departments for urgent treatment, while the same percentage sought help from general medical practitioners.

A perhaps surprising 13% of respondents couldn’t remember who they sought help from.

Healthwatch Lincolnshire said that of the 32% of respondents who contacted ‘other services’ for help, some “Gave up trying to register or get an appointment, while others “Are still waiting for an appointment.”

Other patients were told to “Recontact their dentist at a later date.”

Some respondents “Went to a dentist in a different county or country” while others “Persisted with the pain.”

The nationwide access crisis and the exodus of dentists away from the Health Service has led the British Dental Association to survey its members.

The BDA tweeted “Underfunded and overstretched. GDPs from across England are telling us about the reality of life in the frontline. Please share your feedback.”

Meanwhile the Toothless in Suffolk campaign is appealing for patients in need of emergency or long term treatment who are unable to access NHS care, willing to speak to Channel 4 News.

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