New figures reveal a staggering 5 million people in England lack access to dental care, highlighting a severe crisis in the NHS dental system. The Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to address the issue and implement their 'Dental Rescue Package' to ensure access to affordable dental care for all.
An estimated 5 million people in England do not have a dentist, new figures reveal. ONS figures highlighted by the Liberal Democrats showed that 12.2% of people in England do not have a dentist at all, and only 52.8% have an NHS dentist.Analysis found that in one month alone 140,526 (94.1%) people, who needed treatment but did not have their own dentist, were unable to access NHS dental care.
Read More: Desperate Brits fall for scam 'fake NHS dentists' amid years-long waits for appointmentsRead More: The King and Prime Minister pay condolences to 179 victims of South Korea plane crashOf these patients, more than 1,500 resorted to going to A&E but the vast majority (79.7% or 111,999) reported that they were unable to receive the treatment they needed. This is fuelling fears that more and more patients are resorting to DIY dentistry due to not being able to access any form of affordable dental care.In Oswestry, North Shropshire, where one practice recently handed back its NHS contract due to not being able to balance its books, a man pulled his own tooth out with pliers after six months in agony not being able to find an NHS dentist. As part of the release of the figures, the Liberal Democrats called on the government to end the scourge of dental deserts and to back their Dental Rescue Package.This includes measures such as bringing dentists back to the NHS from the private sector by fixing the broken NHS dental contract and introducing an emergency scheme to guarantee access to free NHS dental check-ups for those already eligible: children, new mothers, those who are pregnant and those on low incomes.Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson, Helen Morgan MP said: “As more and more patients are forced to perform dangerous DIY dentistry, it’s like pulling teeth trying to get ministers to take the action we need.“The crisis in NHS dentistry cannot be allowed to continue - the government must act urgently to bring dentistry back from the brin
NHS Dentistry Dental Deserts Dental Care Crisis DIY Dentistry Liberal Democrats
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