New figures show an increase in dental-related 999 and 111 calls in Bradford

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New figures show that there has been an increase in the number of 999 and 111 calls related to dental issues in Bradford. A request under the Freedom Of Information Act revealed that both numbers have received more calls from the public in the last three years.

According to the most recent statistics obtained from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, there has been an increase from 126 999 calls in 2015 to 159 calls in 2016 and 160 calls in 2017. The number of 111 calls has risen from 28,316 calls in 2015 to 28,989 calls in 2017. The figures have been published as part of the Bradford Telegraph and Argus’ ‘Stop the Rot’ campaign.

Local MP, Judith Cummins, who has lobbied for better access to dental care services in Bradford for many years, said that some calls are due to accidents, which may be inevitable, but it’s likely that others are due to a lack of access to dental services. When people feel like they’ve got no other option, they end up ringing 999, going to an Accident and Emergency department or seeing their GP for issues that can really only be handled effectively by dentists.

Judith Lawrence, who moved from Felixstowe to Bradford, is one of many people who has struggled to see a dentist in the Bradford area. Judith moved two years ago and has found it incredibly difficult to get routine dental treatment. She has even been told to wait until she needs emergency help and then call 111 for assistance. Judith suffers from extensive dental issues, including crumbing teeth, damaged crowns and receding gums, and she claims that they are damaging both her oral and general health.

Chair of the British Dental Association, Mick Armstrong, said that it was unacceptable that patients who need help in Bradford are being passed from “pillar to post” and urged the government to do more to make basic dental services accessible to everyone. NHS England has responded by saying that a review is currently underway to improve access in underserved areas.

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