Worcester dental patients offered a choice between joining waiting lists and paying for private appointments
Dental patients in Worcester have reported problems with access to NHS services, with some encouraged to pay to go private to avoid joining waiting lists.
Some patients in the area said that they had been offered immediate appointments if they paid for private treatment, despite the fact they had been told there was a long wait for appointments for NHS patients at the same practice.
The situation has left many who want to see a dentist facing a decision between waiting, travelling to different towns or cities and paying more for a private appointment.
A spokesperson for the NHS in the Midlands explained that dental teams are currently under a huge amount of pressure due to restrictions, which limit the number of patients they can see and backlogs, which have amassed during the pandemic.
Despite the fact that routine treatment is permitted, most dentists are still prioritising patients with urgent dental needs and this means that there is a significant wait for non-emergency treatment.
The spokesperson added that trusts were working tirelessly to try and improve access to local NHS dental services and suggested that patients who do need help or advice continue to contact their regular dentist as normal. Some clinics have started offering weekend and evening appointments to boost capacity.
Patients who do not have a dentist can find details of local services on the NHS website or contact NHS 111. Some practices are not currently taking on new NHS patients but the spokesperson made it clear that patients should not be told that they can only see a dentist if they pay for private dental care.
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