Patients face long wait for dentistry as NHS tackles 'huge backlog'
PATIENTS who cannot afford to pay for private dentists have been priced out of dental care due to substandard NHS provision in Hampshire, councillors have said.
Concerns have been raised by county council members about the number of people left waiting for NHS dental care – many of whom are unable to pay a private dentist, writes David George of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
NHS England has admitted that patients in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are "unable to access routine care" and is prioritising those in urgent need of treatment.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, staff levels have also decreased and NHS England has admitted to recruitment struggles.
At a Hampshire County Council health and social care select committee meeting, councillors on all sides were fiercely critical of the current model.
Cllr David Harrison, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for health and social care, said: "I used to see a dentist regularly and now find that they’re no longer there – it’s like I’m in a holding hangar until another dentist is recruited.
"In terms of social equality I’m particularly concerned – if you’re wealthy and can afford private dental practices then you’re in a much better position than everyone else, who relies on the NHS.
"If you’re wholly reliant on the NHS you have a less favourable position than those who can afford to pay."
Alison Cross from NHS England, who appeared at the meeting via videolink, said: "We had a huge backlog because of the way dentistry was closed down during the first lockdown, so that impacted provision.
"We are working with the dentists as much as we can – they’re currently at 65% capacity and this means we’re not anywhere near full capacity.
"However, they still have the ability to see urgent cases and people who are clinically necessary to be seen, such as children and people who need operations.
"Our dentists are feeling very low. They are struggling, despite working very hard to see as many patients as they can."
