The NHS Dental Crisis Now Becomes Life-Threatening
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- Published: Monday, 07 February 2022 15:39
- Written by Chris Tapper
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The NHS dental access crisis has resulted in a Northamptonshire man being admitted as a hospital emergency after suffering a blocked airway.
Mr David Perkins was admitted to an Accident and Emergency Department with "Severe swelling and restriction of his airways” BBC News reported on Monday.
The new site said “Mr Perkins had to have his jaw drained to allow him to breathe properly.”
Mr Perkins’ wife Kerry told BBC News that trying to get access to an NHS dentist to treat her husband’s abscess was like trying to find a “Needle in a haystack.”
“Mrs Perkins said she and David had not only tried all the dentists close to their Rushden home, but those as far afield as Northampton, Bedford and Milton Keynes.”
"I’ve been contacting them on a weekly basis," she told the BBC.
"We’ve been told anything from they don’t take NHS patients on, their books are full, some even told us there is an NHS waiting list of up to three years."
The news site said that despite the emergency treatment, the couple have still not been able to find an NHS treatment.
BBC News said the couple “Face the alternative of having to pay at least £500 for private treatment to resolve ongoing problems.”
"While I appreciate everyone needs to have their teeth looked at, this is an emergency situation and we cannot get treatment anywhere," Mrs Perkins said.
An investigation by BBC Radio Northampton reportedly found only one dental practice in Northamptonshire was taking on NHS patients.
The NHS told the BBC that officials were liaising with dental teams about the issue.
“BBC Radio Northampton found only one of the almost 70 dentistry practices in the county was taking on patients, with six others having waiting lists up to two years long,” BBC News said.
One patient from Wellingborough, who lost a tooth fragment late in 2021 told the BBC that “She had tried almost 20 separate dental practices without any luck and been quoted £400 to £500 for private treatment.”
"I’m still calling dental practices," she said. "They are not taking patients.
"One of them informed me they have a seven-month waiting list."
Dr Judith Husband, a GDP in Weedon who serves on the executive committee of the British Dental Association, told the website she was surprised BBC Northampton had “Found seven practices that are taking patients on because the situation is really dire.”
Dr Husband said the issue was a problem across the whole country.
"Having the right to access dentistry can be a little bit of a postcode lottery to say the least," she said.
The BBC said “An NHS spokesman said ‘Dental services are a vital part of the NHS, and officials are liaising with local dental teams to understand where these appointments will be available.’”
“The spokesman said a number of initiatives, including commissioning extra weekend dental activity and piloting new community services for children, had been put in place to improve access.”
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