Patients forced into DIY dentistry as access issues worsen in Suffolk
Patients in Suffolk are being forced to attempt DIY dentistry as a result of worsening access issues in the county.
Hundreds of people signed a petition for urgent action to improve dental services in the area after both of Leiston’s NHS dental practices shut and local MPs and health watchdogs have reported an increase in the volume of calls related to dental provision.
One patient said they had been left with no choice but to extract their own teeth after developing an abscess and being unable to see an emergency dentist.
Another patient, an elderly resident, reported calling every clinic in Ipswich, Hadleigh, Needham Market, Woodbridge and Stowmarket, only to be told that none were offering appointments for NHS patients.
The pensioner, who is entitled to free NHS treatment through pension credits, is unable to afford private treatment but cannot find a dental practice taking on new patients.
There is some good news for residents in Suffolk, with health chiefs confirming that tendering processes for new contracts are underway. However, new contracts are not expected to come into force until July next year, and until then, patients across the county may continue to experience challenges in seeing a dentist.
Practices are prioritising urgent cases, but they are still operating under Covid-19 restrictions, which limit patient numbers.
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