Dental Reforms - Have We Actually Moved One Year On?, UK

Main Category: Dentistry
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 10 Aug 2007 - 3:00 PST

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As the Department of Health releases its report into NHS dental reforms: 'one year on', Frances Blunden, health campaigner, Which?, says:

"This report may not offer the comfort the Department of Health thinks it should for people who still cannot find an NHS dentist.

"We hear the term postcode lottery time and time again but it's still happening. Which? research* showed 59 per cent of NHS practices inLondonwere taking on new patients compared to just 13 per cent in theNorth West.

"Dentists are continuing to leave the NHS forcing more people to go private. Those who do stick with the NHS are often waiting a long time for treatment, travelling long distances or even finding they can't get the treatment they need.

"The Department of Health must now ensure all PCTs are allocated sufficient money for dental resources, but PCTs must be held to account to make sure they are using these resources to meet local needs properly."

Which? research** shows that almost two thirds of people have tried to book a dentist appointment in the past year. Of those, 38 per cent didn't even try to get an NHS slot. Of those who had tried to get an NHS appointment, 68 per cent found it easy, but 26 per cent found it difficult. Of those who needed emergency treatment, 38 per cent found it difficult.

*A total of 466 dentistry practices across all 10 SHAs in England were contacted between 6th and 10th November 2006.

**In March 2007 Which? surveyed 2,110 adults aged 16+ across the UK by telephone, asking them to recall experiences of accessing dental services in the last year.

PCT = Primary Care Trust

http://www.which.co.uk