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NHS dentistry in 'great shortage'Date: 15/10/2007 09:35:38
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A lack of NHS dentists is forcing those in need of care to forgo treatment, according to new research from England's Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forums.
Covering 5,000 people in England, the research found that nearly one in five of those questioned had to go without dental work because of the costs of doing it privately, with many unable to find an NHS dentist.
Amid NHS dentistry shortages, more and more people have looked to private health-care, but not for elite treatment – 78 per cent of private dental patients surveyed said that their choice was made for them by NHS clinic shortages and practices refusing to take NHS patients.
Dentists themselves expressed concern in the PPI forums that new contracts introduced in 2006 had reduced the quality of care and made it harder to obtain appointments.
Responding to the findings, the government apologised to those suffering and forced to forgo necessary treatment, but identified the problem as a long-standing one.
Health minister Ben Bradshaw said: "There are now 4,000 more than there were in 1997, we are moving in the right direction, but there are still problems and I am very sorry about that."
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