Cases of DIY dentistry, including people using superglue to stick home-made teeth to their gums, are on the rise in Britain as more than nine out of 10 NHS dental practices are unable to offer appointments to new adults patients, warned the director of the Healthwatch England watchdog.
According to research by the British Dental Association and the BBC, 91% of NHS practices in England are not accepting new adult patients, with this figure rising to 97% in the east central and 98% in the south west, north east of the country. west and Yorkshire and the Humber.
In Northern Ireland, 90% of NHS practices are not accepting new adult patients, while the figure is 82% in Scotland and 93% in Wales.
The survey also found that of practices not accepting new adults in England, only 23% had an open waiting list and 16% said the waiting time was at least a year or could not estimate how long it would be yes it is.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Louise Ansari, national director of Healthwatch England, said the survey results showed the state of dentistry in the UK was “terrible” and that she had heard of people pulling their own teeth.
Ansari said: “I think the research really confirms and expands on what we’ve been saying for a number of years and the situation is pretty dire.
“So many people can’t get an NHS dental appointment, they’re in pain, they’re anxious, some people can’t eat or talk properly.
She added: “And suddenly, really, it’s not uncommon to hear stories about DIY dentistry, things like making teeth out of resin and sticking them to their gums with superglue, which is an absolutely desperate situation for someone to be in.” find. “
The health secretary said a “real sprint” will be needed before winter to ensure the NHS is able to cope with pressure from seasonal flu, coronavirus and the cost of living crisis.
Sign up for First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every weekday morning at 7am BST
Speaking to the Telegraph, Steve Barclay said: “We have very real challenges ahead in the autumn and winter and as far as I’m concerned there needs to be a real sprint in Whitehall and particularly in the Department of Health to get ready for September.
He added that there was an “urgency” to prepare the health system and that decisions should be made now, rather than waiting until autumn, as it would be too late.
“Part of my role is to prepare for reasonable worst-case scenarios. Obviously, this pressure can take many forms. You could get a bad flu, it could be that the levels of Covid are higher than we would expect or want,” Barkley added.
Commenting on the survey results showing that NHS dental practices are unable to accept new patients, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “Improving patient access to NHS dental care is a priority for the Government and the new contract reforms dentistry, announced last month, are an important step in enabling best practices to take on more patients, making better use of the range of professionals working in the sector such as dental therapists, hygienists and nurses, while rewarding dentists more fairly for the provision of more complex care.’
Add Comment