Newcastle MP warns that poor access to dental care is increasing pressure on hospitals

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The MP for Newcastle Central, Chi Onwurah, has warned that poor access to dental services in the city is increasing pressure on local hospitals and Accident and Emergency departments.

According to Newcastle’s MP, seven people in the constituency are going to hospital for dental treatment every day as a result of not being able to access NHS dental care. Reports show that people from poorer areas of the country are up to twice as likely to seek treatment in hospital for dental issues than those living in the wealthiest parts. Raising concerns in the House of Commons, Ms Onwurah asked why the government is letting people in her constituency down and subsequently increasing pressure on local A and E departments.

In response, health minister, Steve Brine said that NHS commissioning groups were responsible for providing services in line with demand and stated that access to dental services has improved significantly in the last seven years. The number of patients seen by NHS dentists rose by 1.9 million between 2010 and 2016.

Despite the government’s claims that more is being done to target deprived areas, statistics, which were published recently, highlight a considerable gap between oral health standards in the north and south. Research conducted by the Nuffield Trust revealed that an adult in the North East is up to four times more likely to have no natural teeth than an adult in the Home Counties.

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