Swindon residents struggling to find an NHS dentist
A survey has revealed that residents in Swindon are struggling to access NHS dental services.
The survey, which was carried out by Ipsos Mori on behalf of the Department of Health, revealed that Swindon was one of the worst affected areas, with a success rate of seeing an NHS dentist within the last two years of only 86 percent; in comparison to national standards, this was one of the lowest results, with only twelve Primary Care Trusts rating lower in the whole of the UK.
The survey also revealed that 22 percent of participants from Swindon had not bothered to try and arrange an appointment with an NHS dentist in the last two years because their regular dentist had switched from NHS dentistry to private practice. A further 18 percent of respondents said that they hadn’t tried to get an appointment because they presumed that they wouldn’t be able to get in at an NHS surgery.
The national survey produced some very positive results, but the results from Swindon should raise alarm bells. The government has pledged to allow every individual who wants to see an NHS dentist access by March 2011; this was originally a Labour policy and it has been upheld by the new coalition government following a review. The results of the survey will now be used by the Department of Health to target underserved areas and improve access to local services.
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