Residents in Suffolk and Norfolk are enduring severe dental pain, with some resorting to pulling out their own teeth due to the inability to secure appointments, campaigners have claimed.
Mark Jones, co-founder of the advocacy group Toothless in Suffolk, and Adrian Ramsay, leader of the Green Party and MP for Waveney Valley, are raising awareness of the issue. They are calling on the government to overhaul the NHS dental contract to address the crisis.
The British Dental Association reports that 97% of new patients are unable to access NHS dental care. In response, Downing Street has stated that “rebuilding NHS dentistry is a priority,” adding that plans are underway to offer an additional 700,000 urgent dental appointments to those in critical need.
Speaking on BBC Radio Suffolk’s Wayne Bavin Breakfast Show, Ramsay emphasized the urgency of the situation. “We need to tackle the root cause of this problem immediately,” he said. “The situation is particularly dire in Suffolk, Norfolk, and across the East of England. Patients are constantly telling me that it is almost impossible to get a dental appointment.”
Ramsay criticized the current dental contract, describing it as ineffective, and expressed his commitment to pressuring the government for change. “We need a clear timescale for reform. Residents are paying enormous amounts for private treatment, or worse, they’re suffering in pain without treatment,” he added.
He shared stories from constituents like Sarah, who lives near Beccles and suffers daily with four decayed teeth, and Chris from Laxfield, who was forced to take out a £2,500 loan for dental treatment.
Jones, who also co-founded Toothless in England, has been a vocal advocate for better dental services across the country. He expressed willingness to collaborate with policymakers to discuss necessary changes to the NHS system. “Patients and the nation’s oral health are suffering. We need urgent action, but it feels like the issue is being ignored,” he said.
He accused the government of making empty promises. “We’ve been told repeatedly that NHS dentistry is a priority, yet there has been little real action. People are desperate, and in extreme cases, they are pulling out their own teeth.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care reiterated that “rebuilding NHS dentistry is a priority.” The government aims to reform the dental contract to encourage more dentists to offer NHS services. Additionally, the spokesperson highlighted preventive measures, such as introducing supervised tooth brushing programs for children aged three to five.
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