05 September 2023 , 15:20
495
0
Queues of patients with agonising toothache have been reported outside NHS dentists from 4am.
The shocking scenes were photographed on social media outside the Avenue Dental Centre in Leigh, Greater Manchester, which offers appointments to all NHS patients on a first-come-first-serve basis. The Mirror recently revealed desperate patients unable to access an NHS dentist have surged to a record 12 million in England.
It follows recent reports from Faversham, Kent last month, where a practice received 27,000 calls for just 60 NHS slots, and in Kings Lynn which in May saw queues of more than 300 form from 4am. Mum-of-one Leah Price, 26, tweeted a photo of the queuing patients in Leigh with the comment: "I feel like I’m in a 3rd world country. 20 places to get on with an NHS dentist which have now all gone. I got here at 8am, an hour before opening and people have been here on chairs since 4am."
She added: "The people working in the NHS are trying their hardest. But in this country, people should not be camping outside a dentist at 4am on camp chairs just to get on the NHS patient list, it’s wrong.
"Dental treatment is just as important at the end of the day as other health issues and I’m just in disbelief that this is where we are at. I wasn’t expecting to be added to waiting lists that are two years long and to be within a chance of being seen, I need to camp outside. I also have a child that I have to take to school, so waiting outside for hours isn’t an option for me, it’s a mess."
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
The number of patients unable to access an NHS dentist has surged to a record 12 million in England (Twitter)
A BBC investigation found 90 per cent of NHS dentists are not taking on new patients (Twitter)It comes after a BBC investigation found 90 per cent of NHS dentists are not taking on new patients. The British Dental Association blames the "flawed" NHS dental contract and Tory funding cuts over the last decade.
One of the problems for patients is NHS dentists are paid the same for doing one filling as they are for five. Many NHS dentists are turning away complex patients because they may end up missing targets and facing financial penalties. The BDA claims the discredited contract is driving a further exodus from the NHS.
BDA Chair Eddie Crouch said: "These scenes have no place in a wealthy 21st century nation, but risk becoming the new normal for millions of patients. The Conservative Party will gather in Greater Manchester in little under a month. Ministers need to come armed with solutions to this crisis or NHS dentistry won’t have a future."
Ben Squires, head of primary Care for Greater Manchester said: "We are working with local dentists to enable practices to take on more NHS patients. It’s important to note that patients are not registered with a dentist in the same way as they are with a GP. So, if you need a check-up or dental treatment, you can register with a practice outside your local community."
Private dental clinics in Turkey report a huge rise in "health tourists" from the UK. The overall NHS dentistry budget for England has remained at around £3 billion for a decade despite inflation and increased demand.
But patients have been contributing more through inflation-busting hikes in NHS fees. A check up now costs £25.80, up from £16.50, and a filling £70.70, up from £45.60. This has meant less well-off patients putting off treatment that nips problems in the bud, contributing to worsening oral health of the nation.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We are making progress to boost NHS dental services, with 23% more courses of treatment delivered last year compared to the previous year and 1.7 million more adults and 800,000 more children receiving NHS dental care. We will shortly set out further measures to improve access and increase the number of NHS dentists through our dental recovery plan."
Virgin Media users offered a £250 JBL speaker for free - how to claim yours today