Brighton councillors raise concerns over dental access with no practices taking on new NHS patients
Councillors in Brighton and Hove have raised concerns over dental access, with no practices in the city currently accepting new NHS patients.
At a recent meeting with the health overview and scrutiny committee, Labour councillor, Amanda Grimshaw said that she had been unable to find a single clinic in the city with NHS places available.
The ward councillor for Moulsecoomb and Bevendean added that a new practice had opened in the area but was not taking on new NHS patients. It had previously been suggested that the new surgery would help to increase capacity.
Ms Grimshaw called the Sussex dental helpline for advice about finding a dental surgery but was informed that there were currently no practices in Brighton accepting new patients.
She also said that many residents have voiced concerns about the lack of dental appointments in recent months. Ms Grimshaw also asked the panel a question about patients being removed from practice lists.
A spokesperson for NHS dental commissioners said that practices hold individual registers, which makes it difficult to determine how many patients have been removed from lists. Unlike GP surgeries, patients are not required to register with dental surgeries. The NHS is not responsible for maintaining patient lists.
The spokesperson added that patients who are looking for a new practice can contact the Sussex dental helpline or search online using the NHS Choices website. Urgent care is available from regular dental practices and via 111.
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