Health watchdog suggests most Hackney dentists are unable to take non-emergency patients
A local health watchdog has suggested that over half of dentists in Hackney are currently unable to take on non-emergency patients.
Research conducted by Healthwatch Hackney revealed that over 50% are not ready to make appointments available to patients with non-urgent problems due to backlogs caused by the pandemic. Many practices are still focusing on emergency dentistry and working to clear backlogs of delayed courses of treatment and procedures that were cancelled during lockdowns.
Researchers at the watchdog found that only seven surgeries were able to add patients who didn’t require urgent treatment to their books. This is half the number of practices that offered places for new private patients. Three surgeries were unable to accept any new patients when contacted at the end of 2021.
The watchdog has experienced an increase in the number of calls and complaints from residents. One patient, who suffers from anxiety, said they had contacted 15 dental surgeries without any success. None of the practices were able to offer an appointment.
The patient said that they were suffering from pain on a daily basis and they were desperate to see a dentist. As somebody who has severe anxiety, they said it was difficult enough to pick up the phone to try and make an appointment.
After calling 15 practices, none were taking on NHS patients and the resident is now extremely worried about what the future holds, as they already have “extensive” dental issues.
The Healthwatch report revealed that waiting times are increasing in the borough. Some patients have been advised that they may have to wait for a few months, but in some cases, patients have been warned that they could be waiting up to three years.
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