What people have told us about NHS dentistry

Read the entire report  here is the link

https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/sites/healthwatch.co.uk/files/20210524%20Dentistry%20during%20COVID-19%20Insight%20Briefing.pdf 

 

Background

 Dentistry is a recurring issue for Healthwatch since it was set up in 2013.However, since the start of lockdown in March 2020, we have noticed a sharp increase in the number of people telling us about not being able to access timely NHS dental care. In December 2020, we published are portion of the impact of COVID-19 on NHS dentistry following a 452% rise in calls and complaints to local Healthwatch between July - Sept 2020. It was based on the experiences of1,313 people who were trying to access NHS dental services during that period.As public concerns continued, we looked at a further 1,129 people’s experiences of accessing dental care between Oct -Dec 2020, and published a follow-up review to warn about the ongoing dentistry crisis.Our findings were widely publicised by the media and referenced in a parliamentary debate. This briefing highlights many issues we have reported before continued; explores in more depth people’s attitudes towards affording NHS dental care; and sets out recommendations to create equal and affordable access to NHS dentistry.  

 

Key findings 

 Access to NHS dentistry remained a key issue for people across England between January and March 2021. Some people were being asked to wait up to three years to get an NHS appointment; however,private appointments are available within a week. Delays in access have resulted in worsening of painful symptoms and have even led to hospitalisation after an overdose of painkillers.

People have felt pressured to pay for private care as some dentists were offering only private appointments. Our polling data suggests that almost 1 in 3 (31%) had to pay private fees to get all the treatment they needed and nearly 2 in 5 (39%) haver eported that they have been charged extra for their NHS treatments and to cover for the costs of PPE.Generally, people found NHS dental treatment charges expensive, especially those from lower income groups. Over 55s from minority ethnic backgrounds and on low incomes were six times as likely to avoid dental treatments than their White counterparts because they cannot afford the costs. 

 There were regional variations in people’s experiences of accessing NHS dentistry – people in the North Eastare at greater disadvantage than in any other part of the country.

NHS dentistry–insight briefing, Jan-March 2021 4People over 65 from this region are at a greater risk of avoiding dental treatment due to affordability issues.Although people were wary of catching COVID-19 during their dental appointment,most felt safe when they have attended one.