School survey reveals half of children in Plymouth don’t have a dentist
A recent survey conducted by teachers at a primary school in Plymouth shows that half of children don’t have access to a dentist.
Staff at Whitleigh Primary School asked parents to fill in a questionnaire about dental care and oral health. They discovered that 48% of children are not currently registered with a dental practice. The main reason is a lack of NHS dental places in the city.
The findings of the survey inspired the children, teachers and parents to launch a campaign calling for better dental services in the region. The pupils staged a protest outside the school and they also produced multiple videos highlighting the issues they face. There have also been meetings with local MP, Johnny Mercer.
A spokesperson for NHS England said that they are working hard on a new framework of dental reforms, which are designed to boost capacity and enable more people to access NHS dentistry. There are currently two pilot programmes running in Devon schools, including a supervised brushing scheme. Parents who are struggling to find a dentist for their child are also encouraged to make use of NHS 111, which can provide access to emergency dental care for children and adults who need it. The 111 service is available outside of normal practice hours.
During the children’s campaign for better dental health, MP Johnny Mercer has visited the school twice to talk to students and he has also written to the minister for health and social care. His most recent trip to the school took place on February 10th.
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