Suffolk dentist blames funding shortages for access issues
A dentist from Suffolk has blamed government failures for dental access issues.
The dentist, who wished to remain anonymous when talking to local reporters, said that funding shortages have contributed to patients waiting months for treatment or choosing between travelling long distances and going private. The dentist described the situation as “appalling” and said that ministers had failed to fund a system that was already “crumbling.”
Dental access is a widespread problem in Suffolk, and recently, there has been an increase in the number of calls to watchdogs and the press. One patient said that they were so desperate that they extracted their own teeth after struggling to get an urgent appointment for treatment for an abscess.
The NHS has confirmed that tendering processes are underway to increase capacity in Suffolk, but it could be months before new practices are able to ease pressure on existing services. Dentists are worried that patients are not receiving the treatment they need, but they are currently operating under restrictions due to Covid-19 and backlogs are growing.
The dentist said that there was “huge underfunding of this vital service” and added that his practice was running at a loss of £2,000 per month on its NHS contract.
The anonymous dentist said that some colleagues have seen their incomes drop by up to 40% in the last decade and there has been little in the way of help and financial support. With frustration growing among dentists, many are taking the difficult decision to go private and relinquish NHS contracts, which they feel are no longer viable.
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