Campaigners launch new petition for free dental care for all in Greater Manchester
Campaigners have launched a new petition for free dental care for all in Greater Manchester.
Toothless in Manchester has been set up following the success of the original campaign group, Toothless in Suffolk. The goal is to raise awareness of NHS dental access issues and encourage ministers to make dental care free for everyone.
Campaigners claim that it has become increasingly difficult to access NHS dental services, with some patients resorting to DIY procedures, including extracting their own teeth. In Greater Manchester, many dentists have left the NHS making it incredibly difficult to reduce backlogs amassed during the pandemic.
Richard Mackey, one of the founders of Toothless in Manchester, said that patients face a “nigh-on impossible” situation. It’s difficult to find practices that are taking on new NHS patients and even those who do have a dentist can’t get an appointment, even if they are struggling with severe pain. Toothless in Manchester is campaigning for urgent improvements to the system to help patients access NHS services.
Patients in Greater Manchester are trying to get NHS dental appointments, but campaigners say that more and more are being told to join waiting lists, travel far from home or pay for private treatment.
Toothless in Manchester is part of a national campaign group, Toothless in England, which is urging the government to act immediately to help patients who need to see a dentist. As the cost of living increases, most patients cannot afford to go private and many need treatment now, rather than in a year or two years’ time.
For more news click here.
Join this Discussion