Thousands Waiting For NHS Dental Places In Cornwall
Thousands of people are waiting to register with Cornwall based NHS dentist, according to recent figures.
A freedom of information request conformed that health service figures showed that more than 7,000 people in Cornwall are waiting to join an NHS register. In total, there are 7,152 patients without a dentist. The average waiting time to join a practice is more than 28 weeks.
Hannah O’Neill, from Penzance, is one of many struggling to see a dentist; she said that her family had been waiting for more than two years on the list and she is worried about her children’s oral health, as she cannot afford to pay for private dentistry.
An NHS England spokesman said that there were plans to open a new NHS dental practice situated in the West of Cornwall and this will make major inroads into the waiting time in the area. In the meantime, there are additional services running in the area, with funding made available for extra appointments at existing practices.
Patients who wish to register with an NHS dentist are advised to call 01392 822348 and those in need of urgent care should call 01872 354375.
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