Fewer than a third of Cumbria residents have seen a dentist during the pandemic
Fewer than a third of Cumbria residents have seen a dentist during the pandemic, according to figures from NHS England.
Data shows that 32% of Cumbrians saw a dentist in the 24-month period leading up to December 2021. This figure is a significant reduction from the equivalent time period two years before when 47% of people visited their dentist.
Practice closures are one driving factor for low attendance, but many people have been unable to see a dentist since clinics reopened in June 2020. Practices have been working at a reduced capacity to prevent infection during the pandemic and appointment numbers have been limited. Most dentists have been prioritising urgent cases, with access to routine services restricted.
Another issue contributing to low attendance rates is staff shortages. Data suggests that many NHS dentists have gone private and practices are finding it difficult to fill vacancies, particularly in rural and coastal areas.
The British Dental Association estimates that a year’s worth of dental appointments, which equates to around 40 million appointments, have been lost since 2020.
Attendance rates among children in Cumbria were slightly higher in 2021 than in 2020, but there has been a noticeable drop since 2019. In 2019, 60% of children saw a dentist compared to 46% in 2021 and 32% in 2020.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said that it had taken “unprecedented action” to support NHS dental services through the pandemic.
Thanks to the dedication and hard work of staff, urgent care is now back to pre-pandemic levels. The government has also provided £50 million in extra funding to cover 350,000 dental appointments during evenings and weekends.
For more news click here.
Join this Discussion