A shake-up of dental service last year was meant to improve access to NHS dentistry.
But a survey of 5,200 dental patients has found that many been forced to go private after their dentist stopped offering NHS treatment.
Other patients have not been able to register with any dentist or have even started treating themselves.
Dentists told the survey the quality of care given to patients had declined under the new contract, introduced in April 2006.
The government acknowledges that problems remain but says the report gives a very narrow picture of NHS dentistry.
What do you think? Have you or your family had problems finding an NHS dentist? Send us your comments.
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5 comments so far
As a former Hampshire resident, I became resigned to the fact that NHS dentists were, apropriately, as “rare as hens teeth”. For many years I was obliged to subscribe to a dental insurance plan, but at least I did receive good treatment with little delay.
Having retired to Aberdeenshire, the situation is little different. There are NHS dentists, but the waiting lists are so long that they are not an option. So, it’s back to private treatment. Finding a dentist was not too hard. For a fee of just under £10 per month, I get all check-ups X-rays, hygenist etc… Other treatments are charged, but attract a discount of 25%.
Not an uneasonable amount and within many peoples’ budgets.
- Posted by George A kerrWhen I hear what the Government has to say regarding peoples access to NHS Dentists, makes me so very angry!!!
Why do they insist in treating us like mindless children? They Government is screwing the NHS into the ground while at the same time telling the public that all is well and that we are not aware of the true statistics??? They speak of isolated incidents here and there, where there are shortages of NHS Dentists but that this is not a true reflection of the overall picture!!!
Last year at the a meeting of Nurses and Doctors the Health Minister said and I quote ” The NHS has just had the best year ever”. What an incredible and outrageous statement to come out with!!!!!!!
I had better stop now as I am livid about the Governments attitude and can feel my blood presure rising……….
Yours in disgust!!!!!!!!!!!
Peter
- Posted by Peter SchwarzWe moved to Hampshire four years ago and I agree with George - NHS dentists are as rare if not rarer than hens’ teeth!
I was forced to go private for myself and my children. We changed dentists earlier this year but I was appalled at the costs charged for both my myself and my son to have treatment. The final insult came when the dentist put in a replacement filling wrongly, pressing too deeply into the tooth and touching the nerve. This caused the tooth to start to die and when I complained about the pain, I was told I would have to pay £1000 to have the problem put right!
I was forced eventually to get emergency NHS treatment due to level of pain. The Emergency Centre at Poswillo at QA Hospital and Fareham Access Centre were both great and handled the problem as well as it was possible but due to the original problem, the dentist was not able to save my tooth. Today I had to have the tooth taken out. As the tooth was my premolar it was clearly visible when I smiled and I will now have to go private again to get an inlay as it is not available on the NHS.
I registered myself and two children with an NHS dentist back in July when the problem occured but have been told we won’t get an appointment until next April (08) at the earliest. I therefore have no option but to go private again to safeguard my children’s smiles let alone restore my own.
I feel very let down by the dental profession and the rip off that private dentists can be and the inadequateness of the NHS dental service. I don’t blame the NHS. I feel that they try to do what they can but sometimes the priorities are lost in the politics of management and government alike.
If you know of a good dentist in Hampshire or even surrounding areas, please let me know.
Clair
- Posted by ClairAfter my Hampshire Dentist was ‘Struck Off’ the other year, I was forced to find another dentist. The emergency treatment required at the time, limited me to a trip in the Yellow Pages. Found a NHS Practice locally okay. Was treated initially okay. But, on subsequent trips for follow-up treatment, I felt I was given the ‘bums rush’ as I had signed on as NHS. I was told my first crown was tempororay because it was emergency treatment, and was left with a rather unsightly “tooth” (right smack in the front of gob). After three visits which appeared to be be for them to just tinker about, I queried my mess of a temporary tooth, to be told it was permanent. After having subsequent treatment, I feel that NHS work is being short circuited, although of course I still pay the going NHS rate. So do I trawl North Hampshire Dental Practices again?
- Posted by Phil MercerI spent hours today on the phone trying to find a NHS dentist in Hampshire only to be told that either they are not accepting patients or I need to wait until at least March next year.
If I could afford to go private I would but as a low income earner who can not get benifits (foreign national), I just can not afford it.
Instead I am going to either have to resort to doing my own dentistry, or putting up with the pain and taking over the daily limit of pain killers.
Can I get into the emergency dentist … well not so far - but its only been 8 days of constant calling.
- Posted by dayzee