No mobile dentistry for stranded Welsh patients
After the Welsh Health Board announced its challenges this month in not being able to come across a NHS dentist for 4000 patients when their primary dental provider retired in Newcastle Emlyn, Ceredigion, during February 2010, dental recruitment issues have become a hot topic.
While MPs, such as Mr Edwards, and AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas, are campaigning on the issue for clarity and viable interim options before a enduring solution can be put in place, Patients Association’s comments that inventive NHS managing had made an improvement to the situation for several people, are but whispers in the tracks of these disbanded efforts.
Questions of emergency access and willingness to travel have emerged as contributing factors for consideration. And while welsh dental patients remain stranded, NHS dentists took to the highway last Thursday in Suffolk to provide mobile dental care. Another reason is for NHS Suffolk to review the demands for dentists and treatments in the region. The mobile unit is able to offer patients routine check-ups including fillings and removal of teeth. All the necessary equipment is included.
Whether the Welsh dental professional shortage is a recruitment one or simply down to NHS authorities assessing the catchment area for dentistry needs in a timely manner is debatable. However, the communities of the Teifi valley expect a permanent solution.
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