Godalming dental patients are struggling to get an NHS appointment
Dental patients in Godalming are struggling to get an NHS appointment, it has been revealed.
According to the NHS Choices website, practices in Godalming and nearby Farncombe and Milford are not currently accepting new NHS patients and appointments are only available for emergency referrals.
Tina Shonk is one of many local residents who have expressed concerns about access to NHS dentistry in the area. Ms Shonk has been trying to get an appointment for her son, but has found it impossible to register with a local dentist. Her son has cavities, which need treating, but no local NHS surgeries are taking on new patients. Ms Shonk contacted NHS Direct and was given numbers for local practices, but every surgery she rang was unable to take on new patients. The earliest appointment that was available was for August 2018, and Ms Shonk described the waiting time as “disgusting.”
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said that figures suggested that 93 percent of patients in Guildford and Waverley were able to see an NHS dentist and stressed that there are places available despite the fact that some surgeries are oversubscribed.
Lucy Wakefield is another patient who has had trouble registering with a practice in Godalming. Since moving from London, Lucy has been unable to find a practice for her family and was told that she would to wait until September 2018 to get a check-up before one of the many practices she rung contacted her and made her aware of a cancellation much sooner.
Patients who are struggling to find a dentist are advised to contact practices in Guildford where places are available.
Join this Discussion