Dentists in Berkshire fighting to tackle treatment backlogs
Dentists in Berkshire are struggling to tackle treatment backlogs, as the demand for care increases.
Studies suggest that practices in the county are currently running at around 65% of normal capacity, which is making it difficult to keep up with appointments and make headway through substantial backlogs that have amassed during the pandemic.
Many clinics are still prioritising urgent cases, with routine services not yet widely available. Although this means that patients who need emergency treatment should be able to see a dentist, there are significant delays for those hoping to schedule routine appointments.
Senior dental commissioning manager at NHS England and NHS Improvement in the South East, Hugh O’Keefe, said that dentistry has been affected more profoundly than other health services during the pandemic due to the risks associated with treating patients in close proximity and the spread of droplets.
Mr O’Keefe added that the trust is taking “local actions” to increase capacity and enable more patients to be seen but dentists are advising residents to be patient if they are looking to book appointments for non-urgent services.
Practices in the area have been given additional funding to increase the number of appointments, including those outside of normal working hours.
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