Lincolnshire councillor brands lack of dentists ‘disgraceful’
A councillor from South Holland in Lincolnshire has branded the lack of dentists in the area “disgraceful.”
Councillor Glynis Scalese, a member of the Health and Scrutiny Committee for South Holland District Council, said that that there are more vets than dentists in the region and called for urgent help to enable local people to access NHS dental services.
Figures from the Local Government Association (LGA) show that there are only ten NHS dentists in South Holland. The ratio of dentists to patients is one of the lowest in the country and falls far below the national average.
The LGA, along with the British Dental Association, has appealed for emergency action from the government to boost funding and increase NHS capacity.
NHS England is currently running a recruitment drive in Lincolnshire to try to attract more dentists to the area and the government has modified the NHS dental contract. Under new guidelines, dental professionals, including therapists and hygienists, will be able to undertake a wider range of services to decrease pressure on dentists and reduce waiting times. Dentists will also be paid more for complex cases. Patients will be advised to visit their dentist every 12-24 months instead of every 6 months if they have healthy teeth and gums.
NHS England is working on several plans to increase capacity in the county, including recruiting dental professionals to reopen the dental clinic based at Johnson Community Hospital. A spokesperson said that schemes are currently running to target dentists, recent graduates and university students and encourage them to consider working in Lincolnshire. The NHS also offers a ‘Golden Hello’ incentive for those who move to the county.
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