Dental visits plummet by 70% in Portsmouth
The number of people visiting a dentist has dropped dramatically in Portsmouth as a result of the pandemic.
Statistics from NHS Digital suggest that the number of courses of treatment delivered in the city has fallen by 70%. In 2019/2020, 123,000 courses of treatment were provided for Portsmouth patients. The number fell to 37,000 in 2020/2021.
In nearby Southampton, figures suggested a decline of 71% and in Brighton and Hove, the number of courses delivered fell by 63%.
The figures highlight the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on dental services, with similar statistics reported across England. The primary contributing factor was the first lockdown, which was followed by a prolonged period of restrictions, which meant that dental teams were unable to see large numbers of patients.
Millions of appointments were cancelled in 2020 as a result of practices closing and clinics operating at a reduced capacity.
Although surgeries have been able to provide a wide range of dental services for months now, most are still working through backlogs, prioritising patients who need urgent dental treatment, as well as those who have had procedures cancelled or delayed. It is increasingly difficult to get an appointment for routine dental care as the demand far outweighs the supply.
For more news click here.
Join this Discussion