Dorset man launches petition after struggles to find emergency dentist

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A man from Dorset has launched a petition after struggling to get an emergency appointment for his partner within 60 miles of their home.

Josh Keeling said that dentistry is in the “bleakest situation” after being unable to get his partner an emergency dental appointment despite her suffering from “agonising” pain. Josh ended up borrowing money from family members and using savings to pay for his partner, Olivia Morely, to have private treatment.

Olivia was in such severe pain that at one point that she asked Josh to take the tooth out for her using pliers. Josh explained that Olivia had been to the dentist before the family relocated to Dorset from Gillingham, but they had drilled the wrong tooth. When she enquired about going to a local dentist, she was told that there was a year and a half wait for NHS dental appointments.

Josh decided to set up the petition after calling most practices within a 60-mile radius of his home to try to get an urgent appointment. Every call was the same, with reception staff confirming that no new patient places were available and encouraging the couple to call NHS 111.

Olivia described the situation as “overwhelming” and said that she couldn’t eat, talk or sleep when the pain was at its worst. After struggling for months, she paid £600 to have emergency fillings and root canal treatment at a private practice.

Josh’s online petition has so far attracted more than 270,500 signatures and he has been inundated with messages from people who have been in a similar situation.
The petition launched as the BBC confirmed that 90% of UK practices are not accepting new NHS adult patients.

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