Watchdog raises concerns over dentists advising Brighton patients to go private
A health watchdog has raised concerns over reports suggesting patients in Brighton are being advised to pay for private dental care.
The chair of Healthwatch Brighton and Hove, Frances McCabe, said that patients are contacting the group to relay stories, which suggest that they can only access dental care if they are willing or able to pay for private treatment.
Several patients have been told that they would have be able to get an appointment immediately if they went private as an alternative to joining lengthy waiting lists or travelling long distances to see an NHS dentist.
At a meeting of the council’s health overview and scrutiny committee, the concerns were echoed by Labour councillor, Clare Moonan. Mark Ridgeway, senior NHS manager at NHS England and NHS Improvement, outlined the complex challenges facing practices at the moment as a result of the pandemic and restrictions on patient numbers. There are significant backlogs due to the Covid-19 crisis, and the demand for treatment is currently very high.
Mr Ridgeway said that he was aware of reports of patients being offered access to immediate private appointments but confirmed that the NHS has no jurisdiction over private care and that NHS practices are working to targets of 60% capacity in order to meet funding requirements.
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