Following a string of reports of DIY dentistry, and death – or near death – experiences from dental infections, the British Dental Association has revealed that government discovered demand for urgent care of 2.2 million but covered less than a third of it.
In an annex to a message sent by NHS England to NHS contract holders following rollout of commissioning for Labour’s manifesto pledge of 700,000 urgent appointments, officials state “this calculation gives a total estimate of 2.2m people each year (3.5% of the population) who are currently unable to get an NHS dentist appointment, and who have a treatment need. It is assumed that these are the people who would require urgent care appointments.”
The professional body says it is not surprised that – having discovered this level of need – officials stuck to a relatively modest level of delivery. It says Treasury pressure had already seen pledges of new money from the ‘non-dom’ squeeze dropped in October, with the 700,000 appointments paid for by recycling underspends in the dental budget, which are fuelled by ongoing recruitment and retention problems.
At the time of the launch last week the BDA stressed the extra appointments would translate into each of the 24,200 dentists recorded as doing some NHS activity last year seeing the equivalent of little over two extra urgent cases a month. Based on BDA analysis of government data – the same data underpinning NHS England modelling for urgent care – total unmet need for NHS dental care in England amounts to 13m, or 1 in 4 of the adult population.
Dentists have said it is important that Integrated Care Boards build in capacity for follow-up care for high needs patients in local schemes. Many patients will need further dental treatment once their immediate urgent care needs are met. Some existing local schemes allow flexibility for these patients to return for follow-up care and this good practice should be adopted elsewhere.
A recent coroner’s inquest heard that Leigh Rodgers, 34, died last year in University Hospital, North Durham after being told a dentist appointment wait would be ‘weeks’. Her partner called for medical help as the painkillers she had been taking were not helping the pain. A post-mortem examination determined that she had suffered a fatal allergic reaction to a chemical used in medical treatment.
Chris Langston from Oswestry, reported removing molar last February after enduring, he said, months of agony. Barts Pathology Museum has got in touch with a view to scanning the tooth for display.
The Scottish media has led on the story of Nick Whelan, a student who was left permanently scarred after he was forced to undergo life-saving emergency surgery following a dental infection. The BDA has had reports from hospital dentists reporting similar cases in all UK nations and regions, and is calling on authorities across the UK to act.
Shiv Pabary, Chair of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee, said: “So, it seems a new Government discovered the need for urgent care, but chose just to cover a third of it. This is austerity on stilts.
“Rather than eliminating DIY dentistry, the Treasury is ensuring we keep seeing horrors that belong in Victorian era. Ministers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have a moral responsibility to ensure no patient is ever left in this position.”
