Sarah Champion MP “appalled” by number of dental patients forced to A&E.
390 people were forced to attend A&E at the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust last year due to dental decay, as patients across the country find it impossible to get an appointment with an NHS dentist when they need one.
At Rotherham NHS Trust in 2022/23, 335 patients were seen in A&E with a dental abscess, caused by tooth decay, and 55 with dental caries. Across the country last year, 67,000 patients attended emergency departments with tooth decay.
The number of patients attending A&E with dental decay speaks to the alarming decline of NHS dentistry. Labour’s analysis of patient survey data suggests that 4.75 million people across England were denied an appointment with an NHS dentist in the past two years. Figures show millions of people were either told no appointments were available or that the practice they contacted was not taking on new patients.
The inability for patients to access dental healthcare has forced many into A&E departments when their conditions have worsened. Currently, tooth decay is the most common reason for children aged 6-10 to be admitted to hospital.
Sarah Champion, Labour MP for Rotherham, said:
“I’ve heard horror stories from my constituents about the long-term pain they have suffered because they were unable to see an NHS dentist. It is appalling that so many patients are finding impossible to book a standard appointment.
“By failing to ensure people can access regular dental check-ups, the Government have caused a situation where more patients are ending up requiring emergency care instead.
“Prevention is absolutely key. Labour’s plans will help dentists to prevent minor issues becoming more serious and ensure everyone gets the care they need.”
A Labour government has pledged to provide an extra 700,000 urgent dentists appointments and reform the NHS dental contract, as part of a package of measures to rescue NHS dentistry.
Labour’s plans to restore NHS dentistry to all who need it include:
Funding NHS dental practices to provide 700,000 more urgent appointments, for patients in need of things like fillings and root canal.
Incentives for new dentists to work in areas with the greatest need, to tackle the emergence of ‘dental deserts’ where no NHS dentists are taking on new patients
Supervised toothbrushing in schools for 3-5 year olds, targeted at the areas with highest childhood tooth decay
Reform the dental contract to rebuild the service in the long-run, so NHS dentistry is there for all who need it
The plans will cost £111 million a year in total and be funded by abolishing the non-dom tax status, which allows people who live and work in Britain to pay their taxes overseas.
Wes Streeting, Shadow Health Secretary said:
“Millions of people are being denied an appointment with an NHS dentist when they need it.
“At Rotherham NHS Trust, patents are being forced into A&E with tooth decay, as they have nowhere else to turn.
“Labour will rescue NHS dentistry from this crisis, so people can get an appointment when they need one. We will provide 700,000 more appointments a year to those in the most urgent need and recruit more dentists to areas with the worst shortages.”