Campaigners from 38 Degrees and British Dental Association press on failure to invest to end ‘DIY’ care
A fake ‘DIY Dentist’ with his own DIY dentistry kit to fill the gap left by the lack of NHS funding will travel to Westminster with campaigners today (Wednesday) as they deliver a 38 Degrees petition backed by more than 120,000 people to the Department of Health and Social Care.
It comes as a large UK-wide poll by Survation for 38 Degrees [1] shows that in the past 12 months, costs have made it harder for the public to access dentistry:
- 34% of people said it was ‘often’ harder to get healthcare as a result of dentist fees over the last 12 months. That figure rises to 37% for 18-34 year olds and 38% for 35-44
- The figure rises to 40% for people in the North East. It’s also 40% for people with Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean, or African ethnicity, and 39% for Asian British ethnicity.
- And with so many families struggling to manage the bills, the figure stand at 41% for people with a mortgage.
- At 39% the figure is highest among Reform UK supporters, the highest for any party identifier.
- Polling shows when it comes to cost dentistry trumps prescriptions, eye tests and other private healthcare fees when it comes to barriers to care
Analysis by the British Dental Association also shows unmet need for dental care stands at nearly 14 million, or 1 in 4 of England’s adult population, forcing hard-pressed families to make difficult choices to avoid care or even take matters into their own hands.
The DIY dentist and his van will travel around Westminster selling his wares in a warning that without proper funding the future of dentistry will be ‘DIY’ not NHS.
Since 2010 the Westminster Government have presided over savage cuts to NHS dental services, with England now spending almost half per head of population compared to Scotland. [2] The BDA has warned that typical NHS practices are now delivering many key NHS treatments like dentures or bridges at a financial loss, which is pushing the service ever closer to the brink.
Monica Finlay, 68, West Ham and Beckton said: “Having been unable to find a NHS dentist for years, I endured the agony of losing several teeth at home. They became so loose I had to pull them out myself. 2 weeks ago I had to scrape money together to go privately and had to have 7 teeth removed. I’m now waiting for dentures to fill the gaps. I have 6 upper teeth remaining and 5 lower teeth remaining. Dentistry shouldn’t be a luxury, only for those who can afford it, it should be accessible for all who need it. It feels like we’ve gone back to Victorian times. It’s very distressing when you’re ashamed to speak or smile.”
Sandra Keeling, aged 78 from Lancashire said: “As a pensioner, I have had to pay almost £600 to a private practice when I couldn’t get any appointment with a local NHS dentist. I haven’t been able to afford to go back for the work that needs to be completed, so I will just have to cope with the pain and anxiety.”
Matthew McGregor, CEO of 38 Degrees said: “The Government needs to properly fund NHS dentistry right now. Millions of people are going without access to affordable dental care, often living with pain and anxiety. With dental deserts in areas across the country, some desperate people have even told us they are resorting to DIY dentistry. That’s why we’re handing in a petition, signed by 112,809 of us, demanding ministers fix the problem.
“Reforms, promises and ambitions are one thing but, unless the Government puts its money where its mouth is, millions of people across the UK will continue going without affordable and accessible dental care, and suffering as a result.”
BDA Chair Eddie Crouch said: “We’re yet to see a penny of new investment to stop the queues outside practices and end horrific Victorian scenes.
“Access and cost of living crises are colliding, and government needs to step up. Failure to commit funding here will heap new burdens on hard-pressed families who have no options.
“Ministers need to show they are offering a future for NHS and not DIY dentistry.”
