Telegraph letter picked up by media
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- Published: Wednesday, 06 January 2016 07:40
- Written by News Editor
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The letter from 400 dentists, many of them members of GDPUK, published in the Daily Telegraph and the accompanying article by the paper’s social affairs editor have been taken up elsewhere in the media. It was covered on the BBC news website and articles appeared in the DailyMail and Indpenedent. Most focussed on the claim that dental health standards were falling to ‘Third World’ levels in parts of England.
NHS England has denied that there is a crisis, pointing to successive GP surveys which found that more than nine out of 10 people who wanted to see a dentist in the last two years got to see one. A spokeswoman for NHS England told the Daily Telegraph: ‘These claims are wrong – more patients are getting the dental care they need, and 93 per cent of people got an NHS dental appointment when they wanted one in the last 24 months.’
Other than this there has been no comment on the ‘serious concerns’ expressed by the 400 dentists that the NHS dental system in England is unfit for purpose. Nor has NHS England responded to the allegation in the letter that: ‘When more than 90 per cent of all dental diseases can be prevented, it is also a national disgrace that children aged under 10 in England are still more likely to be treated in hospital for rotten teeth than for any other medical reason.’
The main focus of the media was about the lack of access to NHS treatment in many parts of England has led to a 'crisis' in care and a system that is 'unfit for purpose'. They also picked up on the statement that, far from improving, ‘the situation has worsened to such an extent that charity groups normally associated with providing dental care in Third World arenas now have to do so in England’, demonstrating the ‘lack of a proper national dental service’.
Telegraph letter picked up widely by TV, Radio and
Dear All,The serious concerns raised by over 400 dental colleages and myself have featured on national BBC news, National and many local radio stations and several mainstream newspapers prominently too.
Instead of NHS England admitting the nhs dental system is limited, spread too this and there's an URGENT need to create a National Dental Strategy based upon Prevention promotion via the Media widely, vulnerable children and adults are condemned to falling through the ever-widening gaps in the system, due to CENTRALISED DENIAL.
This is simply not acceptable and I call upon the CDO or Health Minister Alistair Burt or even David Cameron himself, to Stop the Spin and Plan for Proper Prevention urgently!
No more excuses or fudged delays whilst even more vulnerable children and adults suffer unduly :(
I call upon EVERY dental professional to contact their local Media NOW and support the 400 who have whistleblown to the public so clearly. Thank you.
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