THE MP for Basingstoke has spoken at a parliamentary debate surrounding dentistry as she joined calls for more to be done to solve the UK’s dentists crises.
Data from NHS England shows that the Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) saw a reduction in 49 NHS dentists in the last year (2020-2021), representing a six per cent decrease from 768 to 719.
Over the last five years, the area has seen an eight per cent reduction in NHS dentists, which is 65 in total.
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As previously reported in Basingstoke last month, of the 20 dentists listed as offering NHS treatment, none were listed as accepting new NHS adult patients.
Ten said they were not accepting NHS adult patients; three said they would only accept NHS patients who had been referred; and the remaining seven had not updated their information recently.
The Association of Dental Groups has welcomed calls for root and branch reforms to solve the crisis in access to NHS dentistry in (February 10) parliamentary debate, led by Waveney MP Peter Aldous.
Maria Miller, said: “The short-term problems created by the pandemic showed much more significant fundamental problems in our dental services – let’s use this opportunity to capitalise on that understanding of where the problems lie and get change which will deliver us better service in the long term.”
The group is the trade association for groups of dental health and care practices and organisations employing dental professionals. They represent the UK’s dental groups with more than ten practices, working together to raise standards and deliver high-quality, consistent dental care for private and NHS patients across the UK.
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Neil Carmichael, chair of the group said that “the solution is simple we need more dentists”.
He added: “Last year the NHS lost a record 306 dentists in the South East of England. Child patients now unable to access regular appointments in Hampshire will be suffering the most.
“We welcome the announcement of additional funding but more must be done to attract people into the profession otherwise we are going to see 'dental deserts' in many parts of Hampshire.”
Image credit: vitatanden.se/
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