Healthwatch Liverpool warns of dental ‘crisis’ in the city
Healthwatch Liverpool has warned that dental services have reached ‘crisis’ point in the city.
Statistics from the body, which is an independent committee, show that the number of patients coming forward for dental treatment has increased by 350% in 2022 compared to 2020/2021. In a recent report, representatives said that in most cases, new patients are unable to find a dentist in Liverpool or the surrounding area.
The report revealed that many patients have been using emergency dental services repeatedly because they cannot access appointments with NHS dentists. Patients have also been forced to think about going private even though they can’t afford to, with some taking out loans, using savings or borrowing from family members.
Healthwatch Liverpool staff found that the dental access crisis was impacting those from the poorest areas, which “further extends health inequalities.” There are also concerns that the situation will get worse, as the cost of living continues to soar and the demand for complex dental treatment increases.
The Healthwatch report was the focal point of a recent meeting of Liverpool City Council’s health and social care committee. Rob McAllister-Bell, Liberal Democrat member, said that he had been directly impacted by the issue. Mr McAllister-Bell told the panel that he had been with an NHS dental practice that had switched to private care and then closed. He had a cracked tooth, which has been treated using temporary caps. At the moment, he is unable to find a new NHS dentist, which means that he can’t undergo treatment to fix the tooth. He has heard similar stories from residents, with many people enduring severe pain because they can’t get an NHS appointment or afford to pay for private care.
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